FIFA secretary general says Triesman affair ‘regrettable,’ doesn’t think allegations are true

FIFA official: Bribery claims probably not true

JOHANNESBURG — FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke says he doesn’t think there is any truth to the comments made by David Triesman alleging a conspiracy to bribe referees in South Africa.

Valcke said Thursday: “I can’t imagine it is true, but we will see if there is anything true in what Lord Triesman said about a deal between Russia and Spain on match-fixing.”

Triesman resigned as the head of England’s Football Association and 2018 World Cup bid after being tape-recorded by a tabloid newspaper making the allegations.

Valcke called the affair “sad” and “regrettable.”

He also said he was expecting an initial FIFA Ethics Committee report into the allegations by Friday.