Israel Saria
FA Statement regarding Lord Triesman.
After fully discussing and considering the alleged comments with Lord Triesman, The FA Board accepted his resignation as FA Chairman and Chairman of the World Cup Bid Board with immediate effect.
Lord Triesman said: “I have decided to resign as chairman of The FA and the 2018 Bid board.
“A private conversation with someone whom I thought to be a friend was taped without my knowledge and passed to a national newspaper. That same friend has also chosen to greatly exaggerate the extent of our friendship.
“In that conversation I commentated on speculation circulating about conspiracies around the World. Those comments were never intended to be taken seriously as indeed is the case with many private conversations.
“The views expressed were not the views of the 2018 Bid board or the FA. Nobody should be under any misapprehension that The FA or 2018 Bid board are disrespectful of other nations or FIFA and I regret any such inference that may have been drawn from what has been reported.
“Entrapment especially by a friend is an unpleasant experience both for my family and me but it leaves me with no alternative but to resign. I have immediately informed The FA Board of my decision.
“I have enjoyed hugely my time at The FA and the Bid and feel I accomplished a great deal in areas I love – qualification for the World Cup in South Africa, healthy growth in grass roots, women’s and disability football, and changes in the representation of fans who are the lifeblood of English football and the involvement of our diverse communities. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Bid has made enormous progress both around the world and in the technical bid in England. I wish everyone associated with FA all the very best for what is a very exciting future for the game we all love.”
The FA Board have today appointed Board members David Sheepshanks (Chairman of the Professional Game Board) and Roger Burden (Chairman of the National Game Board) as joint acting Chairmen of The FA.
Vice-Chairman Barry Bright will take on the role of acting Chairman of The FA Council and will chair this week’s AGM.
Speaking on behalf of all the Board Barry Bright said: “The Football Association would like to thank Lord Triesman for his efforts over the past two and a half years as the first independent Chairman of The FA. The Board expressed its considerable regret at the circumstances of his departure and wish him and his family well for the future”.
The FA Board also gave its unanimous support to the World Cup Bid and is working with the Bid Board to plan the most effective way forward.
Comments
Loading…