MPs hear of more meddling from FIFA as former governance chief Miguel Maduro reveals conflict of interest

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The extent FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his lieutenants go to in order to influence supposed independent decision-making in Zurich was laid bare in Westminster yesterday.

Former FIFA governance chief Miguel Maduro, who lasted 11 months in the post, told the DCMS sport select committee that his sacking followed him blocking Russian deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko from the FIFA Council because of a conflict of interests with his senior political role.

But FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura warned Maduro that barring Mutko would lead to next year's World Cup in Russia being a 'disaster' and place Infantino's presidency in jeopardy.

Former FIFA governance chief Miguel Maduro was sacked after just 11 months in the post

Russian deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko (right) gives Gianni Infantino a stadium tour

Portuguese academic Maduro, speaking under parliamentary privilege, said: 'The secretary general made it clear to me that it was extremely problematic. 

'More than that, she said we needed to find a solution to declare Mr Mutko eligible, otherwise the presidency itself would be in question and the World Cup would be a disaster.'

Interference from on high at FIFA has also led to former investigative ethics chief Cornel Borbely — axed like Maduro on the eve of the FIFA Congress in Bahrain last May — having to turn down a request to give evidence to the same select committee about sports governance.

FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura feared placing Infantino's presidency in jeopardy

Chairman Damian Collins wrote to Infantino seeking permission for Borbely to attend but received a letter back from Samoura. She refused on the grounds of confidentiality, adding Borbely could face potential criminal action under Swiss law if he did so.

Collins said he was surprised that Samoura, rather than Infantino, had replied and did not refer the request to the FIFA ethics committee.

Answering questions about the lack of real change at FIFA since Infantino succeeded the disgraced Sepp Blatter, Maduro said Infantino had wanted to make reforms but had chosen to 'politically survive, preserving his presidency' above protecting the independent bodies.

Damian Collins had his request for Cornel Borbely to attend a committee blocked by Samoura

It has not gone unnoticed by football agents, who dislike family overly interfering with their management of players, that three Premier League footballers who failed to achieve the transfers they wanted during the last window — Jonny Evans (above) of West Bromwich and Arsenal pair Calum Chambers and Jack Wilshere — all have family members involved in their representation. 

Clubs tend to be a lot more honest with agents about a player's future than with his family, whom they would not want to upset. 

Jonny Evans is one of three players with family representatives who wanted a summer move

Quest's bid for TV rights  

Quest, the low-profile TV station, are one of the parties showing an interest in bidding for the Football League highlights contract which will start next season, with Channel 5 not expected to renew their partnership. 

Quest is available on all platforms including Freeview and is a sister channel of Eurosport on the Discovery network who have the TV rights to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Quest have already shown an interest in football by screening various pre-season tournaments and a clash of Eurosport scheduling has seen them pick up coverage of snooker and superbikes. It is also expected that the super-wealthy Liberty Group, who own Discovery, will offer considerably more for the Football League rights than BBC. 

Low-profile TV station Quest are weighing up bidding for the Football League highlights

Only the commercially rampant RFU could start selling their new in-stadium England Rugby Hospitality at Twickenham, that launches in November 2018, before the start of this year's autumn internationals.

Hospitality for the 2018 Autumn Internationals is already available before this year's games

It will be a big surprise if Roy Hodgson's backroom staff at Crystal Palace does not include performance analyst Andy Scoulding, who was alongside him at Fulham, Liverpool and England. 

Scoulding also had the nightmare experience of joining failed manager Gary Neville in Valencia. 

Meanwhile, one familiar face greeting Hodgson at Crystal Palace will be Joanne Whittle, head of PR and Media, with whom he worked throughout his time at the FA. 

Unfortunately for Hodgson, Whittle will be leaving at the end of the month having handed in her notice before Frank de Boer's brief reign to take a break after 30 years in football. 

Former England performance analyst Andy Scoulding may join Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace