New Zealand football official Charles Dempsey, who abstained in last weeks crucial world cup vote, has been left in no doubt that he will not be forgiven in Africa for denying the continent the chance to stage its first ever World Cup. South Africa's bid ambassador Terry Paine, the former England and Southampton player, believes Dempsey neglected his duty to vote as he had claimed he would, and as the Oceania Football Conference wanted him to.
Disregarding Dempsey's subsequent insistence that OFC were prepared to let him make up his own mind, Paine said: “The vote for South Africa was demanded by his association. It was as simple as that. He is not a wild card. He is mandated to vote on behalf of Oceania, and that is what he should have done,”
Speaking to BBC Radio, he said: “You have to remember what it means to a continent like Africa.”
“The expectations of all the kids, there have been shattered by one man refusing to vote," he continued. "What is he there for on a 24 delegated committee of FIFA. He is there to make votes and to come under pressure - but what he has done is to dash the hopes of millions of kids in the African continent.”
PA Sport
