Teixeira denies impropriety in wake of report
Messi tying the knot with childhood sweetheart
SAO PAULO, June 28, (Agencies): 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 US 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 US lawyer Michael Garcia was filled with “ifs” and “may haves.”
“I didn’t read it,” Teixeira said in Wednesday’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
There is a different side to Lionel Messi, one that not everyone gets to see.
The player who shines with the ball by his feet appears to be extremely shy off the field. But the timid-looking Argentina star, who for years has been attracting the world’s attention because of his mind-boggling soccer skills, is an outgoing, cheerful and humorous character when he is among those he knows and trusts.
It’s the lighthearted and extroverted version of Messi that will be the center of attention on Friday in his hometown of Rosario when he marries 29-year-old Antonela Roccuzzo, his childhood sweetheart and mother of his two children.
The wedding is a highly anticipated event in the central Argentine city, located about 300 kms (186 miles) northwest of the capital of Buenos Aires, although the public is not expected to have any access to the festivities.
About 250 guests, including some current and former teammates, are expected to attend the ceremony in a five-star hotel that overlooks the city’s largest shantytown. Special security measures are expected to be in place as guests begin arriving for the event.
Among those expected to attend are Barcelona teammates Neymar, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique. Colombian singer Shakira, Pique’s wife, is also expected at the ceremony.
Former West Ham United and England midfielder Scott Parker announced his retirement on Wednesday.
Parker began his career at Charlton Athletic before playing for Chelsea, Newcastle United, West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in a career spanning two decades.
The 36-year-old won the 2004-05 League Cup while with Chelsea and was capped 18 times by England.
He was voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year in 2011 during his spell at West Ham.
“The decision to retire has not been an easy one for me but having thought long and hard over it I believe that now is the right time to move on to the next chapter in my life and career,” Parker said in a statement released to Sky Sports.
“When I started my career at Charlton Athletic all those years ago I could only have dreamt at that time just what was to follow over the next two decades.
Southampton have warned clubs interested in Virgil van Dijk that the Netherlands defender is not for sale at any price.
Van Dijk saw a potential move to Liverpool fall through earlier in the close-season after the Reds were forced to apologise for their pursuit of the centre-back after Saints complained to the Premier League.
Southampton recently appointed new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to replace the sacked Claude Puel and the club’s executive director Les Reed has moved to end the pursuit of Van Dijk.
Reed was also quick to quash talk of selling Portugal right-back Cedric Soares, who has been linked with Everton, Tottenham and Barcelona.
Swansea have parted company with full back Franck Tabanou after reaching an agreement to end the remaining one year of the 28-year-old’s contract at the Liberty Stadium.
“The club and Tabanou reached a ‘compromise agreement’ to end the remaining one year of his contract in order to help the 28-year-old find a new club,” Swansea said in a statement.
Tabanou failed to make an impact for the Welsh side, making only three appearance since arriving from Ligue 1 club St Etienne in June 2015.
The former France under-21 international returned to his former club on loan last year before heading out again on a season-long spell in Spain with Granada.