MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIFA bribery allegations: Grondona apologizes for ‘unacceptable’ insults about England

Grondona said he would vote for England (2018) if they gave back the Malvinas Islands

Julio Grondona, Argentina's FIFA vice-president has apologised for his “unacceptable” insults about England, David Bernstein the chairman of the English Football Association said. The controversy at the time also involved bribery allegations and the Falklands/Malvinas Islands dispute.

Grondona, the senior of FIFA six vice-presidents and the president of the Argentina FA, called the English “liars” and “pirates” at the FIFA Congress in Zurich in June when England asked to postpone the re-election of FIFA president Joseph Blatter.

The English football association’s stance towards Blatter was linked to its surprise on having been left out for Russia in the organization of the 2018 World Cup, including suggestions questioning the alleged transparency of FIFA decisions under Mr. Blatter.

Earlier in the day of the conflicting statements Grondona told German reporters that “when the English (failed 2018 World Cup) bid I said: 'Let us be brief. If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote'. They then became sad and left“.

However Bernstein told the Leaders in Football conference in London that he had received a letter of apology from him, retracting his remarks.

Bernstein told delegates: ”I was pleased to receive a letter of apology from the Argentine (FA) president Grondona following his unacceptable comments about England in Zurich.“

Grondona's comments came after Bernstein had asked Congress delegates to postpone the FIFA presidential election on June 1, where Sepp Blatter was elected unopposed. The situation arose after then Asian soccer chief Mohamed Bin Hammam, who was due to stand against Blatter, withdrew his candidature following bribery allegations.

Bernstein revealed on Wednesday that on the morning of the vote more than 50 delegates from UEFA tried to persuade him not to go ahead with his plan, but he insisted it was the right thing to do. After Bernstein spoke at the Congress, Grondona launched his attack.

The Argentine told the Congress: ”We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is busier lying than telling the truth. This upsets and disturbs the FIFA family.

“I see it at every Congress. They have specific privileges with four countries having one vice-president.

”It looks like England is always complaining so please I say will you leave the FIFA family alone, and when you speak, speak with truth.“

Bernstein, also told delegates that England's relationships with FIFA and UEFA were improving, but said he was ”not holding his breath” regarding planned FIFA reforms due to be announced later this month.

Grondona a strong supporter of Blatter at the time also revealed that he had voted for Qatar as organizers of the 2022 World Cup, because voting for the United States “would have been like giving my vote for the English”.

“Before I arrived to FIFA Finance Commission the English were there, the same who are now demanding transparency. At the time FIFA had 11 million US dollars in the bank, now me an Argentine, who does not speak a word of English, has taken that sum to one billion US dollars” said Grondona.

He added that “we’ve distributed the money all over the world promoting football. I practice Socialism with money, which is what I like. Not Socialism empty handed that is useless”, underlined AFA’s president.

Grondona was also ironic by the alleged claims of corruption against FIFA made by the English Football federation; “I’ve never asked for something in my life, but with the English I did so: I told them ‘let’s put a quick end to it: you can have my vote for England (to host the 2018 World Cup) if you return the Malvinas Islands that belong to us’. They were very sad but of this they haven’t said a word”.

Following the vote for the 2022 World Cup, rumours abounded that Qatar had handed out 20 million US dollars in bribes to four members from FIFA Executive Committee: Grondona, Paraguay’s Nicolas Leoz, Guatemala’s Rafael Salguero and Cameroon Issa Hayatou. Allegedly there was also abundant evidence to support the claims.

“A few months ago it was said I had been given 78 million USD. We are still counting the bills with my wife. Now we have to count another 20 million. Look: I’m rubbing my hands, please…, it’s a bit too much” concluded ironically the second man most influential man in FIFA.