Tuesday 11th March, 2008 13 Six executives of FIFA's former marketing partner to stand trial Ryan GENEVA (AP) - Six executives of FIFA's former marketing partner will go on trial Tuesday, charged with embezzle- ment, fraud, fraudulent bankruptcy, damaging creditors and falsification of documents. ISL/ISMM, FIFA's marketing part- ner for almost two decades, left an esti- mated debt of US$300 million (euro196 Sidebottom million) when it collapsed in 2001. The bankruptcy led to bitter clashes between FIFA and UEFA, which ques- tioned FIFA president Sepp Blatter's han- hat-trick confirms dling of marketing deals. Prosecutors say the criminal mis- handling at ISL/ISMM amounted to more than 100 million Swiss francs (US$98 million; euro64 million), but have rise to the top so far declined to comment on reports in German and British media that the com- by Simon Wilde pany paid out millions in bribes to sell England’s Test hat-tricks lucrative contracts for sponsorship and broadcast rights to major sports events. In the absence of Andrew Billy Bates v Aus 1883 If convicted, the defendants could Flintoff, England have been short Johnny Briggs v Aus 1892 face up to 4 1/2 years in prison. of characters who can fight diffi- The six executives, who have not cult corners with tirelessness, George Lohmann v SA 1896 been named because of Switzerland's courage and drive. But after 10 Jack Hearne v Aus 1899 strict privacy rules, deny all charges. The case centers on employees of months of utter dependability, it is Maurice Allom v NZ 1930 time to acknowledge that they have ISL and its parent group ISMM, which owned the television and marketing found one in Ryan Sidebottom. Tom Goddard v SA 1938 rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. It may be no coincidence that he Peter Loader v WI 1957 The company's collapse tore a hole is a Yorkshireman by birth, like Dominic Cork v WI 1995 in FIFA's finances, prompting the those other yeoman bowlers, Zurich-based body to lodge a criminal Matthew Hoggard and Darren Darren Gough v Aus 1999 complaint over irregularities in Gough, who also took Test hat- Matthew Hoggard v WI 2004 ISL/ISMM's accounts. It also led to bitter clashes between tricks for their country. Ryan Sidebottom v NZ 2008 When Sidebottom, 30, returned Blatter and his former No. 2, Michel Zen- Ruffinen, and former UEFA president to the England team last summer England's Ryan Sidebottom appeals for the wicket of New Zealand's Jacob Oram Lennart Johannson. Zen-Ruffinen after a gap of six years and claimed putting the ball in the right place to claim his hat trick on the fourth day of their first cricket Test at Seddon Park accused Blatter of engaging in irregular eight West Indies wickets in classic and asking the batsman to play it. in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, March 8, 2008. (AP) payments in connection with marketing swing-bowling conditions at As Steve Harmison has demonstrat- deals. Blatter denied any wrongdoing Headingley, many people predicted ed, speed alone is not enough. also evident in his batting. The for England as well as football for and was re-elected in 2002 for a second that he would be found out when To be a real handful, array of strokes may be limited, Manchester United. term as president of one of the world's the environment was less helpful. Sidebottom needs the red ball to but he always sells his wicket dear- When he could no longer get a most powerful sports bodies. He was, the argument went, no swing, although when it doesn’t he ly. In Sri Lanka he even faced more game with Yorkshire and moved to "It was a major crisis for FIFA," said Andreas Herren, a FIFA spokesman. more than a horses-for-courses still has the discipline and skill to deliveries over the three Tests than Nottinghamshire, he started to "Ninety-two percent of all revenue replacement for the injured bowl tightly. England have given Kevin Pietersen. On Sunday, when take wickets in steady numbers, that FIFA generates comes from the tele- Hoggard. him first use of the Kookaburra England were looking to take time but found that the England coach vision rights and the marketing rights The implication, entirely with- balls in Sri Lanka and New out of the game, Sidebottom fol- at the time, Duncan Fletcher, did for the World Cup," Herren added. out foundation, was that he would Zealand because they swing for lowed instructions to the letter, bat- not rate bowlers who could not "Anything affecting those rights is a give up when things got more diffi- only a short period, but the differ- ting 43 deliveries for three runs. push the speed gun near 90mph. major issue for us." cult. In fact, Sidebottom – as every ence between the two tours is that His hard work and modesty Hamilton is the first Test match In 2004, FIFA said it would try to bowler worth his salt should – has here, in Hamilton, the old ball has may stem from the fact that he has that Arnie has watched Ryan play recover 125 million francs (US$122 mil- lion; euro80 million) it was owed by kept on going. In less than a year reverse-swung as well. lived much of his cricketing life in because he is a nervous watcher, ISL/ISMM through civil proceedings, he has claimed nearly 70 wickets Having endured a testing time the shadows. He was told by his perhaps on the basis that he knows and dropped its criminal complaint. for his country in Test, one-day and in Sri Lanka, he has come back coaches as a youngster that he was- how difficult life can be at the top But Thomas Hildbrand, an investi- Twenty20 cricket. strongly after being prevented from n’t good enough to make it in the level. In fact, through some quirk gating magistrate in the Swiss canton His great service to English appearing in the warm-ups because big time. Then, at Yorkshire, for or other, his son has found a way to (state) of Zug, continued the criminal cricket is that he has reminded of a hamstring injury. years he was remembered as the keep Test cricket very simple. probe and compiled a 228-page indict- everyone of the simple virtue of His strength of character is son of Arnie, who played cricket (Timesonline) ment of ISL/ISMM group last year. That report will be released at the start of the trial. According to German magazine Der Spiegel, the indictment contains allega- tions that more than 18 million francs Australian Formula One (US$17.6 million; euro11.5 million) were transferred to persons directly or indi- ‘India was warned to rectly connected to contracts negotiated organizers announce by ISMM. Herren said FIFA was in no position to comment on bribery allegations, but compromise discipline Harbhajan’ noted that FIFA was only one of ISMM's many clients. MELBOURNE, Australia largest city, and organizers British daily The Guardian has (AP) - Australian Grand Prix said it would be prohibitively reported that at least one FIFA official organizers have devised a com- expensive to install temporary was among those to receive payments. promise plan to shift the start lighting each year. Zug prosecutors declined to comment on time for 2009 to counter Formula "The only way the race the reports ahead of the trial, but lead One boss Bernie Eccelstone's could stay in Melbourne, or prosecutor Marc von Dach said last year move it or lose it demands. anywhere else in Australia, is that no current or former FIFA officials were under investigation. Ecclestone told a British if it is staged during the night Blatter said FIFA was affected by the newspaper that discussions with so that the public in Europe case against its former marketing agent, Australia's prime minister had can watch it," Ecclestone was but added that the organization was not failed to break an impasse over quoted as saying in the Mail on worried about the trial. the future of the event and the Sunday newspaper. "Why should we fear something we country faces losing its race if it "At the moment it is ridicu- have started," Blatter said at a meeting did not switch to a night race. lous that people are asked not in Gleneagles, Scotland. "This will not Ecclestone had been pushing to sleep in order to see it live. disturb the work and responsibilities of the world of football, and FIFA and the for Australia to adopt a night That can't carry on. president." race in the interests of European "The alternative is to pull A verdict in the trial is expected television ratings, but race the race completely from later this year. organizers had resisted a move Australia." they considered impractical and Ecclestone said he had dis- too costly. cussed the matter with The start of this Sunday's Australian Prime Minister Gebrselassie season opening race has already Kevin Rudd. been pushed back 90 minutes "I've spoken to Kevin Rudd almost certain to from its regular start to 3:30 p.m. and he's told me it would cost local time (0430 GMT). too much to re-stage the race, Organizers say if that works to so I guess that's it," Ecclestone miss Olympics increase TV ratings, they'll push said. "We won't be going to VALENCIA, Spain (AP) - World record the start back another 90 min- Australia for too much longer." holder Haile Gebrselassie is almost cer- utes to 5 p.m.