BBC Panorama spills beans over Fifa corruption

One must feel a degree of sympathy for the England 2018 World Cup bid team. Months of hard work might all count for nothing just three days before international football governing body Fifa announce the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 tournament.

BBC's Panorama on Monday (November 29) revealed that three senior Fifa officials, who will vote on Thursday, took bribes from a sports marketing firm. It alleges that Nicolas Leoz, Issa Hayatou and Ricardo Teixeira were offered money by the now-defunct International Sport and Leisure (ISL) company, to gain World Cup rights to market the tournament.

Panorama uncovered the murky world of corruption in Fifa, and looked into Hayatou's dealings. The programme showed details of 100,000 French francs paid to Hayatou, the Fifa vice-president.

Leoz, the head of the South American football confederation, was shown to have taken payment totalling $600,000 (£384,000) in three installments of $200,000. Secret ISL documents obtained clarified a list of 175 secret payments.

However, Teixeira was marked as a serious figure in bribery claims, with 21 secret payments received by a Liechtenstein fronbeen t company called Sanud totalling $9.5m (£6m) channeling through Teixeira Brazilian company to him. Teixeira had close links with Sanud after an inquiry of the Brazilian senate in 2001.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter was asked by journalist Andrew Jennings why Fifa had not punished the officials, instead reverting to a court case in 2008 where the former ISL officials were largely exonerated.

Jack Warner, the head of Central America (CONCACAF) football, was alleged to have profited greatly from selling 2010 World Cup tickets to black market touts stacked up to $84,000. Panorama received evidence from Norwegian journalists showing invoices and e-mails that state that Warner was involved in the transactions.

An e-mail trail showed that tickets were destined to go on the black market, including 38 World Cup final tickets in Johannesburg. But it was rejected by touts as they were unwilling to meet with the asking price. Warner had also been alleged in selling tickets to touts in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Frankly, the programme has come at an unwelcoming time for England. The episode provided an insight into Fifa's murky dealings, but England's bid officials have said that these alleged transactions were dated and had little to say whether these bribes are being completed today. former MP and sports minister David Mellor says it may be more morally acceptable for England to "insist in reforming Fifa, and making Fifa transparent instead of kowtowing to Fifa in order to get the World Cup finals".

Whether this will subsequently damage England's World Cup bid will be seen on Thursday. The bid details the infrastructure in place (stadiums, transport etc.), the passion and fanbase of English football, and how financially lucrative a prestigious tournament can stimulate the English economy, although full details of how much it can gain from hosting remain to be seen. David Beckham, Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William have arrived in Zurich to meet Fifa officials to reverberate their England World Cup message.

England will compete against favourites Russia, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands. All the contenders will go through an elimination process hoping to achieve a majority from the 22 Fifa members voting. The candidate will have to reach at least 12 votes to be awarded the rights to host the World Cup, otherwise it will go round after round until the third stage of the vote after the contenders are eliminated one-by-one.

The votes are cast by officials in Europe (9), South America (3), CONCACAF (3), Africa (3), and Asia (4). England are in a game of Russian Roulette, but looks like they may have shot themselves in the foot.

Chelsea's indifferent form leaves Ancelotti searching for answers

The sacking of assistant manager Ray Wilkins has clearly had a mental effect on manager Carlo Ancelotti. Since Wilkin's dismissal (whatever the reason may be), Chelsea have lost three in the last five matches as dark clouds hang over the Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti has since replaced the former Blues player with chief scout Michael Emenalo. A strange move, given that he has no coaching certificates. The players had an affinity with Wilkins and almost unfathomable that he was sacked. Why? Was it more to do with his contract? Or did he have differences with the manager? Or maybe the fact that he speaks Italian was probably an eroding asset as Ancelotti's English has improved, as has his knowledge of the national game.

Defeats at Liverpool, at home to Sunderland and at Birmingham have halted Chelsea's majestic start. And while that should not represent a decline of Chelsea FC, it is hard to believe they can regain that imperious form of their first five league games, which they had a 100% record.

Ancelotti on Sunday could preside in Chelsea's worst spell in the league if they lose away at Newcastle. Three straight defeats means it will be their worst run since 1999, and may leave calls for his resignation. Unlikely, but it is hard to see where the Blues can go from here looking at their wafer-thin squad.

Haye demolishes subdued Harrison; eyes Klitschko brothers

A lifeless performance from Harrison condemned him to defeat (AP)

David Haye said to his family and friends he would knock out his former training partner and friend Audley Harrison in the third round. On Saturday, he delivered on his promise with an almost effortless performance against an inert Audley Harrison in their WBA heavyweight title bout.

The fight was frankly a mismatch between a rising star and a flop who believed he had a genuine hope of capturing a world title. National newspapers have already questioned the validity of the fight as to whether Haye placed a bet on himself to knock out Harrison in the third. He instead stated after the fight his friends and relatives placed a wager on Haye for a third round KO.

The first two rounds did not lend itself to be a British heavyweight classic. Haye studied his opponent's evasive approach in the first six minutes, and only landing a couple of his shots to Harrison's temple, but never followed up with more combinations. The lack of action prompted a chorus of boos surrounding the MEN Arena, with many paying between £100-400 for the good seats, as many as 700,000 purchasing the event on pay-per-view and thousands of others going to their local to watch it. Harrison responded by a jab to Haye's forehead that barely rocked him back.

Harrison stepped up into the third looking very timid and defensive, and Haye capitalised on his vulnerability. Piercing right-handed shots stunned the 39-year old Harrison, and was felled by the 'Hayemaker' just over a minute in. The dazed and dejected Harrison managed to recover by the count of eight, but the inevitable was to happen. A further barrage of blows to his head and body, some of them not cleanly struck, led the referee to intervene for a technical knockout victory.

It is difficult to see where Harrison will go on from here, with pundits including Barry McGuigan calling for his retirement. However many will criticise Haye for choosing Harrison knowing he would guarantee a third round KO, and for the fact that it was his easiest £6m cheque he could ever collect. Harrison, who only landed one of his 33 punches, will pocket £3m for his feeble attempt in his promise of knocking out his former sparring partner. For Haye, it is the matter of onwards and upwards, and surely a fight with one of the Klitschkos beckons after what seems to be endless negotiations over pay distribution.

Bale on form of his life, seeks 'get out' of Spurs?

Bale gave Maicon huge problems on his right in both ties (AFP)

Gareth Bale is one of the hottest form players in European football. Hinged by his stunning play against Inter Milan, memorably of his San Siro exploits, his reputation of a cursed youngster who took 23 Premier League appearances in 2007-08 to win a game for Tottenham is now transformed.

Bale more than impressed his manager, Harry Redknapp, but prompted rave reviews from media all over Europe. The Gazzetta Della Sport in Italy exposed Bale as a guy who derailed Inter's first half demolition in a majestic fashion by scoring a hat-trick in the 4-3 Spurs defeat in September. His performance at White Hart Lane didn't overshadow what the Welshman had accomplished at the San Siro, but his slightly more understated role on the left still packed a punch.

In Italy and with Tottenham four down into the second half, Spurs attempted to launch counter-attacks down the left, thereby exploiting the energetic and pacy Bale. Lennon also had some freedom on the right, but wasn't as direct as the 23-year old Welsh international. He rampaged nearly 60 yards with the ball 10 minutes in, weaving past Maicon before rifling his low shot into the bottom corner. The second, around a minute later, nearly mirrored his run from the first and again with a low finish into the far corner. The third, his hat-trick was worked by Lennon juking and jiving on the right, working off lone frontman Peter Crouch before the ball suddenly broke to Bale, who slid his shot again in the far corner.

Very few 'Away' players really leave their mark at the San Siro. It's a notorious difficult place to play, and a vociferous Milanese crowd proud of their club. Bale had the temerity to stamp his authority on the game with the objective of giving the scoreline a much less painful look. I didn't think even Bale envisaged a 4-3 loss coming out after half-time.

His performance in London was sublime. Inter Milan manager Rafa Benitez was very naive not to double up on Bale, knowing how he obliterated Maicon on his right flank. Javier Zanetti's pace wouldn't have offered much in cover anyway, but Bale still tore down the left touchline. He created two goals - for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavyluchenko - sliding the ball along the turf, and leaving Maicon and Lucio with their backsides on the turf. Bale even had room for an audacious overhead kick, but couldn't adjust his body in time for a correct swing. The Bale show is out in full force now. It definitely is in Europe, which may lead to a few European giants to knock at the door of the Lane for enquiries over availability in the summer.

While he saves his best for the midweek European nights, he has recently lost that spark that we see on TV on a chilly Saturday at the Reebok, or the Hawthorns stadiums. He was redundant at the former, and it is concerning especially at a relatively still early stage of the season, that Bale is burning out. But if he still has that raw pace, I'd say burn it while you still can.