Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Connarty Excerpts

Thursday 3rd July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab)]

4. What recent discussions he has had with England's international football representatives on allegations of corruption within FIFA.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant)]

These are very serious allegations. Of course, major sporting events need to be awarded in an open, fair and transparent manner, but, as the Prime Minister has already said, we need to wait to see the results of Michael Garcia’s inquiry before discussing next steps.

[Michael Connarty]

I thank the Minister for that very cautious response. I have just finished two years as chair of the sports committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and I am its rapporteur on corruption and governance in sport. Now that the investigative journalists of The Times have revealed how much corruption is going on, and Greg Dyke has spoken out very boldly on this, does the Minister agree that it may be time for a Joint Committee of the House to look at this question in some detail before the beautiful game is mired by the behaviour of FIFA?

[Mrs Grant]

I am very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss his suggestion; I thank him.