? Richards attacked Fifa then fell into a water feature
? Jim Boyce says the outburst may open 'old sores'
Britain's Fifa vice-president, Jim Boyce, says he will try to limit any damage caused by Sir Dave Richards's "unfortunate" attack on Fifa and Uefa for "stealing" football from the English.
Richards, speaking at a security conference in Doha on Wednesday, also criticised China for claiming to have invented football, and told his hosts they had their "heads in the sand" over alcohol restrictions at the Qatar World Cup in 2022. The Premier League and the FA quickly distanced themselves from the remarks.
Richards later fell into a water feature at the Museum of Islamic Art.
Richards had told the conference: "For 50 years we owned the game ? We were the governance of the game. We wrote the rules, designed the pitches and everything else. Then, 50 years later, some guy came along and said: 'You're liars,' and they actually stole it. It was called Fifa. Fifty years later another gang came along called Uefa and stole a bit more."
Boyce, whose long-term future at Fifa was already in doubt due to a proposal to strip Britain of its automatic vice-presidency, told insideworldfootball he was "surprised" by the remarks.
"I'm pleased he very quickly apologised. Sir Dave Richards is someone I have known and respected for 15 years and have always held in the highest regard. I have made it clear that I am doing my utmost to rebuild any bridges that might have been damaged ?
"Anything at the moment that could bring back old sores, for want a better expression, is unfortunate. It would have been better if Sir Dave's remarks had not been made, given the publicity they have generated."
Richards, meanwhile, has added to his earlier apology, blaming his background for his outspoken nature.
He told Sky Sports News: "I'd like to clarify something ? I am a Yorkshireman and I am quite broad and if I say something it can be taken out of a little bit of context.
"I was asked about the heritage of the game, I would never want to offend Fifa or Uefa. I used a word which was, looking back, probably inappropriate but it is the way I am.
"I put out a statement last night and I have sent a private email to the president of Fifa and the president of Uefa saying I apologise because I never intended to cause any stir at all.
"We were talking about heritage and legacy and England has given a wonderful legacy to the total world. It gave them the game and I am tremendously proud of that but I also recognise that Uefa and Fifa have done a magnificent job over the years in changing things and it has got to be changed and I recognise that.
"I just want to say I apologise, it was a comment that probably another person would not have made but I am a little bit broad and I accept that."
The Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, who was with Richards when he fell into the water feature, told BBC Sport: "I was on the way to dinner with Sir Dave at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. We were walking across to our table in a dark courtyard area. There were three fountain areas nearby, no pool.
"They had switched off the lights. He thought he was stepping on to flat marble, but his foot went down into the water, he fell over and hurt his leg quite badly. Any suggestions he had a drink is nonsense. It's a dry place."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/15/dave-richards-rant-unfortunate-fifa
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