The FFA’s New Man of Mystery

After the latest controversy involving expensive outside consultants for our World Cup Bid, I figured there couldn’t possibly be more. Yet Buckley and Lowy seem to come up with ways to keep us all busy trying to figure out just what they think they are doing. Enter Fedor Radmann, a former Vice President of Germany 2006’s organizing committee and the newest controversial hire for the FFA in its bid to bring the World Cup finals to Australia. Andrew Jennings at Transparency in Sport has the story.

Among the most damning accusations is that Radmann – with Sepp Blatter’s assistance – forced Charlie Dempsey, a member of the FIFA executive committee, to abstain during the voting over the rights to host the 2006 World Cup, essentially assuring that Germany, and not South Africa, received the rights to host the finals. Following Dempsey’s immediate resignation, Jennings reveals a controversial minutes document from a private FIFA meeting:

“The FIFA President expressed regret that the outcry in the wake of the election had forced Charles Dempsey to hand in his resignation from the FIFA Executive Committee and the OFC Presidency and that he had answered Charles Dempsey’s letter of resignation on 15 July by assuring him that the Executive Committee would in due course seek a way to recompense him for his long and loyal services to FIFA.”

Lastly, here’s a good summary of why Australian football fans should be concerned:

“Australian taxpayers – and their Government which channels their money to Andreas Abold, Fedor Radmann and of course the Swiss-Hungarian conman Peter Hargitay - should wonder if they are getting value for money. There’s no doubt that Abold employs a talented team of graphic designers and his bid book will be up to standard.

The other two hustlers? Who on earth was ever influenced by Peter Hargitay apart from the Swiss businessman who loaned him US$2 million and has been chasing him for years to get it back. Hargitay performed a few dark things for FIFA president Sepp Blatter and then was shown the door. After being kicked out by the English FA he won’t be expecting to swing FIFA vice-president Geoff Thompson’s vote behind Lowy. And now Bin Hammam’s people, gearing up for war with Blatter, have told Hargitay not to bother them again. Jack Warner knows what he wants and intends to get it. Better leave that twisting in the twilight.”