Thompson appointed Britain's FIFA representative

With John McBeth forced out of FIFA's executive committee, England's Geoff Thompson was appointed to take the Scotsman's seat.

McBeth was made to resign after making disparaging comments about African and Caribbean nations, the English and FIFA president Sepp Blatter. He had been appointed less than a year ago, getting more support than Thompson.

That came after Scotland's David Will stepped down after 17 years on the council.

McBeth, president of the Scottish FA, was told he was not welcome at this week's FIFA Congress. The English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh FAs decided that Thompson would take over.

"I am overwhelmed," Thompson said. "It is the culmination of a lifetime's service to football. It is about 50 years since England last held that vice-presidency as for many years it was held by Northern Ireland and Scotland. Most of the big European associations like Italy, Spain, France and Germany have long held seats on the executive and it is about time the English voice was heard again."

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.