Brazilian president's rant

Teixeira slams English FA

July 24, 2011
By ESPNsoccernet staff

The president of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF), Ricardo Teixeira, has launched an incredible attack on the English FA and the BBC, also claiming that the British Government is trying to undermine Brazil's efforts to host the 2014 World Cup.

Ricardo Teixeira
GettyImagesRicardo Teixeira headed the CBF from 1989-2012

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Teixeira has been tipped to succeed FIFA President Sepp Blatter, but used a magazine interview in his homeland to reveal his anger at Lord Triesman's allegations that he had asked for bribes during the World Cup 2014 bidding process.

''The islanders [Britain] are the pirates of the world,'' Teixeira told Revista Paui. ''It's all rubbish... these English people are p****d off because they lost. Triesman had to explain in court how he spent $50 million, $15 million of which was Government funds, on England's bid. It's a ridiculous sum ... we spent only $1 million and we won.''

Teixeira continued his bizarre rant by claiming that there was a conspiracy between the BBC and the Government.

''The BBC is a state organisation,'' he said. ''It is of interest to the British Government to annul Russia's selection [for the 2018 World Cup] and to pull Brazil from its place because they think they can substitute us at the last minute. It's all orchestrated.''

Interviewed during a trip to FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Teixeira is also reported to have told the magazine that he was "going to make their lives hell" when referring to the English media and the Football Association.

He said: "In 2014, I'll be able to get away with anything. The most slippery, unthinkable, Machiavellian things. Denying press credentials, barring access, changing game schedules. And you know what? Nothing'll happen. You know why? Because in 2015 I'm out of here. Then it'll all be over."