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Montevideo, March 29th 2024 - 11:17 UTC

 

 

FIFA protects Brazilian football chief Teixeira who faces corruption charges

Friday, November 11th 2011 - 08:03 UTC
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Secretary General Jerome Valcke: ”in a democracy, everyone is innocent until proven guilty” Secretary General Jerome Valcke: ”in a democracy, everyone is innocent until proven guilty”

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has dismissed claims of corruption against Brazilian football chief Ricardo Teixeira.Teixeira has faced bribery and fraud accusations in recent weeks, as he continues the task of preparing Brazil to host the World Cup in 2014.

He is currently meeting with Valcke as part of his work as head of the Local Organizing Committee in order to iron out differences between governing body FIFA and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

Questioned over the allegations hovering over the Brazilian, Valcke insisted that he would not abandon Teixeira unless such charges were verified.

“In a democracy, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Why should FIFA be different? This is being investigated,” the secretary told Estado de Sao Paulo.

Meanwhile, 1994 World Cup winner and current Socialist Party deputy Romario was once more critical of the handling of the 2014 tournament and said those on corruption charges should face jail time.

“The people must push hard so that all those who have been charged in the middle of all this corruption, stay in prison at least until 2014,” the former Barcelona striker said in an interview with ESPN Brasil.

“Regarding some colleagues of mine that form part of the commission, I didn't expect anything different because a lot of them had their campaigns backed by the CBF, and even by FIFA. That means that they are there to do FIFA's work, the CBF's, those who are behind them.”

Romario has been one of the staunchest critics of FIFA's handling of the World Cup and has criticized the body for valuing commercial profit over national sovereignty.
 

Categories: Politics, Brazil, Entertainment.

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  • GeoffWard2

    FIFA 'Secretary General' Jerome Valcke: ”in a democracy, everyone is innocent until proven guilty”

    Jerome, surely you read the papers - that's what we do in Brasil, we find them, prove them guilty and sack them - one after another, after another, after another
    . . . Ricardo will be afforded the same protective treatment as any other 'Secretary General' or politician, and then he, like the rest of them, will find himself out on his ear and probably in jail.

    In Brasil, Brasilian Law trumps FIFA-Law. . . . .or at leat that is the aspiration.

    Nov 12th, 2011 - 12:02 am 0
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