Chris Coleman believes that anyone found guilty of corruption in football should be given a lifetime ban from the game. Speaking in the wake of more revelations about alleged financial wrongdoing, the Wales manager urged the relevant governing bodies to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards those involved and “get rid of them from the game”.
Coleman said that “greed and dishonesty” were at the heart of the issue and expressed his belief that the time has come for football to send out a strong message. The 46-year-old, who said that he had never taken a “bung” or been approached by anyone offering money in that way, sounded dismayed at the idea people are “stealing money” through football.
“It’s naive of anyone to think there is no corruption in football because it’s everywhere,” Coleman said. “It’s not about class or how much you earn. We’ve seen it in governments and all other sports, whether it’s drug-taking in athletics, cycling or gymnastics. Now it’s bungs in football and we’ve seen the stuff at Fifa.
“It’s sad but I have zero respect for anyone caught because it is people stealing money. If anyone is caught, then they should be removed from the game permanently and that’s it, goodnight. If you earn £50,000 a year, that’s a good salary to the man in the street. If you’re earning £50,000 a week then why are you after more? It’s just greed and dishonesty.”
The latest reports, as part of the Daily Telegraph’s investigation into corruption in football, have led to Tommy Wright, Barnsley’s assistant manager, having his contract terminated by the Championship club pending a full investigation into allegations that he accepted £5,000 in return for helping to persuade his employer to sign players from a fake Far East firm.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the Queens Park Rangers manager, has denied any wrongdoing after also being named in the newspaper’s investigation. The Telegraph alleged the Dutchman requested a fee of £55,000 to work for the fake Far Eastern firm seeking to sell players to the club.
“Unfortunately we are all tarred with the same brush,” Coleman said, reflecting on the wider theme rather than individual cases. “We are all involved in an industry where there is corruption from the very top. But what are we going to do about it if someone is caught? Will it just be a rap of the knuckles or will they be banished?
“If there is evidence against someone and they are found guilty, then get rid of them from the game and they should never be allowed back. When you look at the latest things being said, it’s not nice and it’s not good for the game. I’ve never taken a bung and I’ve never been approached to take one. I can’t say I know anyone who has, but there is rarely smoke without fire.”
In relation to Sam Allardyce, who lost his job as England manager earlier in the week as part of the same undercover investigation, Coleman said he had only recently attended a Uefa event with the 61-year-old. “I’m really disappointed for Sam. I was with him last week at a coach’s conference in Paris and I know he will be absolutely devastated. I’ve known Sam for a long time and I know how much he wanted the job and how proud he was to get it. So I’m gutted for him that he has lost it through events off the pitch rather than on it.
“I think he would have done a good job. England would probably have qualified for the World Cup and then you are judged as England manager at a tournament, but now he will never have that chance. He has made a mistake and admitted that. It’s a shame that someone of his experience let their guard down for five minutes and lost their job over it.”
