Soccer

McBeth accused of racism

Senior Fifa figures have accused John McBeth, the Scot who was due to become Britain's new Fifa vice-president this week, of …

Tue May 29 2007 - 01:00

Senior Fifa figures have accused John McBeth, the Scot who was due to become Britain's new Fifa vice-president this week, of making racist remarks.

McBeth is to be hauled in front of Fifa's new ethics committee after he claimed African and Caribbean associations were tainted by corruption and greed.

The Concacaf federation — countries from the Caribbean, north, south and central America — have sent a letter of condemnation to Fifa branding McBeth's remarks "racist".

Concacaf president Jack Warner, who is from Trinidad and Tobago and is one of seven Fifa vice-presidents, said: "The entire confederation met this morning and we decided to send a letter of condemnation to Fifa that this is unacceptable.

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"Why did he only mention African and Caribbean countries? To me that smacks of racism of the worst kind. We all feel deeply insulted and we will support any moves to send him back to Scotland where he belongs."

The British Fifa vice-presidency will now remain vacant until the ethics committee has made a decision. McBeth has also agreed not to attend this week's Fifa Congress.

In his interview with a number of Scottish Sunday newspapers, McBeth, the president of the Scottish FA, described Fifa president Sepp Blatter as a "tricky customer" and claimed poor nations in Africa have different ethics from the British 'fair play' attitude.

McBeth said: "I know two or three [at Fifa] whom I'd want to count my fingers after shaking hands with them. If I come across corruption, I have to expose it. I must try to stay true to my beliefs and hope I don't get seduced. By and large, the four British countries know what fair play is and when we're stepping out of line.

"But, as soon as you hit Africa, it's a slightly different kettle of fish. They're poor nations and want to grab what they can. I presume the Caribbean is much the same — they just come at it in a different way."

It now seems likely McBeth will have to withdraw and the home nations hold another election to find the person to succeed Scottish lawyer David Will, who is retiring after 17 years.