South Africa’s Elgar looks for new energy with the red ball
SAO PAULO, (Reuters) - The reclusive former head of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has called the FIFA ethics report “inconclusive” and asserted that he is safe in Brazil despite a U.S. indictment against him.
Ricardo Teixeira, one of three CBF presidents indicted in the United States in the FIFA corruption scandal, broke his silence after the global soccer body published a report into possible ethics violations.
He denied allegations that he took expensive gifts and said the report by U.S. lawyer Michael Garcia was filled with “ifs” and “may haves.”
“I didn’t read it,” Teixeira said in yesterday’s Folha de S.Paulo newspaper. “I am not going to read a report that isn’t conclusive. Does it say that I took money here or there? It’s only ‘could have’. Let me tell you something so you can understand: I didn’t receive gifts. I didn’t receive gifts. I didn’t receive gifts.”
The 430-page report was completed in 2014 but had been secret until Tuesday, when FIFA hurriedly released it after the document was leaked to the German newspaper Bild.
The report said Garcia was unable to contact Teixeira but questioned his conduct while a member of FIFA’s Executive Committee for 18 years.
Teixeira, who resigned as CBF president in 2012, lives a quiet life in Rio de Janeiro and rarely talks to the press.
He has not been accused of any crimes in Brazil and rubbished any chance of taking a plea bargain and cooperating with U.S. authorities, as some other former FIFA officials have done.
“Is there anywhere safer than Brazil?” Teixeira asked. “What am I running from if I am not accused of anything?” (Reuters) - South Africa’s stand-in captain Dean Elgar says their three-day warm-up fixture against England Lions that starts today is a chance to build vital momentum and confidence ahead of the four-match test series next month.
South Africa have been second-best in the One-Day International and Twenty20 series in England this year, and also suffered a first-round exit in the Champions Trophy, but Elgar believes the red ball can signal a change in fortunes.
“We have to compete against a very good England Lions side,” Elgar told reporters.
“To get that competitive edge will be a big thing for us. Naturally the guys will have that instinct in them so we have an important three days, weather permitting.
“We have a lot of new faces which is exciting for us. There is a different energy within the test side irrespective of how things have gone in the past. The energy is always in a good place for test cricket, which is what I want for the boys.”
Elgar is leading the side in the place of Faf du Plessis, who has returned to South Africa to be with his wife for the birth of the couple’s first child. He is not yet sure to return for the first test at Lord’s on July 6.
Elgar is relishing stepping into the role.
“It has been a dream of mine since I have been a young boy and even if it doesn’t happen at Lord’s it’s still a great opportunity for me to be a senior leader within the group. I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
South Africa have won their last four consecutive test series, against New Zealand (home and away), Australia (away) and Sri Lanka (home).