The things they say...

‘Neither FIFA nor its President have anything to hide, nor do they wish to.’

Blatter press release, 28 January, 2003

BBC Panorama Reporter Andy Davies:

‘A one million franc bribe … is it not correct that Mr Blatter asked that it be moved to the FIFA official who was named on the payment slip?’

FIFA Director of Communications Markus Siegler:

‘If you do not stop now, then we call the security and we put you out.’

FIFA Press conference, Zurich, Tuesday, 11 April 2006

‘I am deputy chairman of the finance committee of FIFA. I oversee a budget of US$2 billion and I have never seen one iota of corruption.’

Jack Warner, Trinidad Express 12 December 2004

‘Lying and deception and bad faith are standard operating procedure at FIFA.’

Adam C. Silverstein, a lawyer for MasterCard in their successful action against FIFA, New York, December 1, 2006

‘I do not believe a Jew can ever be a referee at that level (Argentine Premier League) because it’s hard work and, you know, Jews don’t like hard work.’

FIFA senior vice-president and chair of Finance Committee, Julio Grondona, 5 July 2003. Buenos Aires

‘FIFA is a healthy, clean and transparent organisation with nothing to hide. There is huge public interest in FIFA, therefore we have to be as transparent as possible. We will try to communicate in a more open way so the world can believe us and be proud of their federation.’

FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi, January 2003, on fifa.com

 

More fun at the Royal Palace

 

 

During the past year many Danes have watched in horror as their Crown Prince Frederick prepared himself to join the IOC. Here are a few of the columns written by Andrew Jennings for Ekstra Bladet in Copenhagen.

 

 

Prince Frederick takes his new pals from the IOC home to meet his mother

 

Sunday September 9, 2009: This column anticipating Prince Frederick introducing his mother Queen Margrethe was published three weeks before the ceremony inducting him into the IOC.

 

 

Here’s the Bagman!

 

Thursday October 8, 2009: We discover serial bribes-payer Jean-Marie Weber lurking inside the Bella Center.

 

 

Forgettable Days at the Bella Center

 

Friday October 9, 2009: IOC members listen to their favourite tunes.

 

 

More worries for Queen Margrethe

 

Saturday October 10, 2009: What if the IOC goes bust?

 

 

 

Meet ‘An Olympic Hero’

 

 

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