Sport

Casey seeking to retain UEFA post

Des Casey will be seeking re-election to the executive committee of UEFA on Thursday when, for the first time, the European body…

By PETER BYRNE
Tue Apr 28 1998 - 01:00

Des Casey will be seeking re-election to the executive committee of UEFA on Thursday when, for the first time, the European body holds its annual congress in Dublin.

Casey was among the newcomers elected to membership of the decision-making body in Vienna four years ago and helped by his profile as chairman of UEFA's youth committee, has since emerged as an influential voice in European football.

A former president of FAI who, together with Dr Tony O'Neill, was directly responsible for recruiting Jack Charlton as national team manager in 1986, he is now credited as one of those responsible for bringing the congress to Ireland.

There are 14 candidates for the six places available on the executive committee. Six people will contest the election for the appointment of UEFA's three candidates on FIFA's executive committee.

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The congress, which is being organised jointly by UEFA and FIFA, will bring almost 300 people to Dublin, making it one of the biggest in the history of the European organisation.

Inevitably it will reflect the growing divisions within Europe over the decision of FIFA's general secretary, Sepp Blatter, to oppose Lenart Johansson, the avuncular Swede, in the election to appoint a successor to FIFA's president, Dr Joao Havelange. Johansson is unashamedly using his office as UEFA president to push his claims for the job, at precisely the same time as he is accusing Blatter of using his FIFA connections for his own advancement.

It smacks of electioneering at its worst but, in the best political traditions, Johansson will offer countries a bigger slice of FIFA's cake and a guarantee of greater transparency of its accounts, if elected.

Meanwhile, Alan Kelly, the Sheffield United and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, will not play again this season after damaging knee ligaments in the game against West Brom at the weekend. The latest in a long line of fitness problems for Kelly means that he will miss the European Championship warm-up game against Mexico next month.

A second blow for Mick McCarthy is that he may also have to replace Steve Staunton who will not play for Aston Villa again this season after aggravating a hamstring injury in their defeat by Bolton on Saturday.