'There Is No Safer Place to Be Than Brazil,' Says Former President of the Brazilian Football Confederation

06/28/2017 - 09h28

Suspected of having received bribes to help elect Qatar as host of the 2022 World Cup, Ricardo Teixeira, 70, former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, called the accusations of the "Garcia Report", released on Tuesday (27th) by FIFA, "ridiculous".

The document of more than 300 pages reinforces the suspicions against the Brazilian football mogul, who is already being accused in the USA and investigated in Spain.

"I will not read a report that is inconclusive. Everything is 'if', 'would,' "said Teixeira.

In an exclusive interview with Folha, he ruled out the possibility of following other soccer managers and making a plea bargain in the United States.

"There is no such agreement. It's ridiculous to say that I called Sandro [Rosell, former Barcelona president, arrested in Spain accused of sharing bribes with Teixeira] arranging a place to live. I want to see the recording", he said by telephone.

Teixeira is accused by the FBI and the Justice of Spain of receiving bribes in the sale of the rights of the Brazilian team and of tournaments in Brazil and in the continent.

He is currently living in Rio and said he does not intend to leave Brazil.

"Is there a safer place than Brazil? What's the place? Will I run away, if I am not accused of anything here? You know that everything I'm being accused abroad is not a crime in Brazil. I'm not saying if I did it or not", he added.

Translated by MARINA DELLA VALLE

Read the article in the original language

	Nacho Doce/Reuters
	Former President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) Ricardo Teixeira