Rotten to the Core

By Rob Murphy

2009. Russia and England are bidding to stage the 2018 World Cup. FIFA Secretary-General, Franois Picard, has been offered a small fortune that will enable him to retire in luxury if he secures the World Cup for Russia.

Picard works out that a no-hoper bid for the European football championships in 2016 will undermine England's World Cup bid, and supports it against a bid from his own country. But when the no-hoper bid proves more credible than anyone thought, Picard finds himself in a hole which gets ever bigger as he desperately tries to dig his way out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Nov 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546282983

Rob Murphy

Rob Murphy was born in London in 1956 and obtained a politics degree from Hull University. He currently lives in Sutton, Surrey. He is also the author of Kingdom Come.

Book preview

ROTTEN

TO THE

CORE

ROB MURPHY

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© 2017 Rob Murphy. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Rotten to the Core is a work of fiction and the creation of the author’s imagination. Any organisation which exists is referred to in a fictional context and the book is in no way a reflection on the views of the organisations or their staff. All characters in the book are fictional and any resemblance or similarity of same to people currently alive is coincidental and not intentional.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/30/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8299-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8300-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8298-3 (e)

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Rob Murphy

ALSO BY ROB MURPHY

FICTION

Kingdom Come

PROLOGUE

1 June 2009

Rue Perronet

Neuilly-sur-Seine

Paris

Zut!

François Picard, Secretary-General of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, better known by its initials, FIFA, was not a happy man. The headline in the sports pages of Le Monde read

England to bid for 2018 World Cup

Competition for the right to stage the 2018 World Cup intensified after the English Football Association announced its intention to submit a bid.

Currently, Russia are favourites to win the right to stage the next but one World Cup, with Turkey and Spain running a close second. However, there are several concerns about Russia’s fitness to hold the World Cup because of the distance between venues, lack of adequate infrastructure and the overt racism of Russian football fans. In addition, many Western countries have expressed their concern about the increasingly oppressive behaviour by the government led by Dimitriy Ivanov.

England previously bid to stage the 2006 World Cup but was unsuccessful because of widespread concerns about their archaic infrastructure and transport networks and the menace of their notorious football hooligans. However, over the past ten years, the country’s transport networks have been improved immeasurably and they have at last brought the hooligan problem under control. The English bid proposes using twelve modern stadiums including the magnificent rebuilt national stadium at Wembley in North London. It is possible to travel between each proposed venue by rail, which will appeal to FIFA delegates concerned about the number of games in Russia requiring air travel. The extreme example will be those games taking place in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, which is ten hours flying time from Moscow.

What’s wrong, Darling? asked Picard’s wife, Cècile.

Nothing, dear replied Picard. See you this evening.

The same day

French Football Federation

Boulevard de Grenelle

Paris

François Picard’s worst fears were realised when he arrived at his office. There was a message from his PA, Nicole Gachôt. It read Sergei Lavotchkin rang you at 8am. Please ring him back urgently – it’s about the World Cup.

Picard had been Chairman of the French Football Federation between 1989 and 2007 and, as he had been made a Life President, he still had an office. He was well aware that support from a newly independent Russia and supported by other former members of the Soviet Union had been critical to France being awarded the right to stage the World Cup in 1998. At the time, none of the proposed venues had been built and there was strong political pressure for Morocco to be the first African nation to stage the World Cup. The support of Russia was to prove critical in helping France win the vote. Now, Russia wanted their payback in terms of support for their World Cup bid.

There was a personal stake for Picard in Russia’s bid being successful. Not only was he tipped to become FIFA’s next President after the current incumbent, Joao da Costa, stepped down but Russian oligarchs close to the President, Vladimir Rudakov and the Prime Minister, Dimitriy Ivanov, had promised a kickback worth £30 million in sterling.

If England were to win the right to stage the 2018 World Cup instead of Russia, not only would Picard lose out financially. At best, he would lose Russian support for his bid to become FIFA President. At worst, he had good reason to fear for his life. The Russians were not good losers.

Five minutes later, Picard had Sergei Lavotchkin on the other end of a phone line.

Lavotchkin was not happy that he had found out about the England bid through the internet.

François, how come you had no knowledge of the England bid? They can’t have prepared it overnight.

The English FA must have kept the bid under wraps for some time, Sergei replied Picard. They’ve obviously learned lessons from their failed bid for 2006.

Do you realise that they might win the right to stage the World Cup, François? The bid looks highly professional and they’ll get support from all the ex-Warsaw Pact nations, the USA and countries that used to be in the British Empire.

Relax, Sergei said Picard. Don’t forget the British Government’s made a load of enemies over the past ten years. Remember Iraq?

Picard was referring to the United Kingdom’s participation in the Second Gulf War in 2003 where they defied international opinion to join the USA in military action to overthrow the government of Saddam Hussein. He continued.

What’s more, they’ve not got a good record for managing projects. The Olympics is running at three times the original budget. Russia will win the World Cup, no problem.

I’m glad you’re confident, François replied Lavotchkin. Remember we supported your bid for the ’98 World Cup. Also, Berezhnikov and Tupitsin are expecting a return on their investment.

Lavotchkin was referring to Alexei Berezhnikov and Vladimir Tupitsin two of the most powerful oligarchs in Russia who had offered a sizeable payment to Picard if Russia won the right to stage the 2018 World Cup.

I think it might be sensible if you started pulling a few strings, my friend. With that rejoinder, Lavotchkin rang off.

Later that day

L’Auberge Bretagne

Rue d’Odessa

Paris

François Picard had arranged to meet Gerard Basquet, France’s representative at the Union of European Football Associations, better known as UEFA, for lunch.

L’Auberge Bretagne was a Breton seafood restaurant, and the Coquilles St Jacques starter and the Sole Bonne Femme main course was highly recommended. Picard ordered both.

I understand you’ve got trouble with the Russians, François said Basquet. Any reason?

They backed our bid for the ’98 World Cup, Gerard replied Picard. Not surprisingly, they want the same from us.

I thought you were helping them.

I have been said Picard. Until last week, Russia were overwhelming favourites to stage the 2018 World Cup. Until England put in their bid.

Is that definite? asked Basquet.

It is, Gerard. And it looks a very strong bid too. If England get the World Cup instead of Russia, it won’t do our relations with them any good. We need Russia’s support for other tournaments, such as the Olympics. I assume Russia is supporting our bid for Euro 2016?

They are, François. By the way, this might amuse you. Scotland and Wales have also submitted a joint bid.

Are you serious? Their combined population is only eight million and I don’t think either country has qualified for anything in years. Do they really think they’ll get it?

You are quite right, François replied Basquet. Scotland last qualified for a major tournament in 1998. For Wales, it’s even longer. They made the quarter-finals of the European Championships in 1976. But they think that, because London’s got the Olympics, they’ll have a go in staging a major tournament.

Do they present any threat to our bid, Gerard? asked Picard.

None at all replied Basquet. They may have four massive stadiums – Hampden Park, Celtic Park and the rugby stadiums in Cardiff and Edinburgh. But they’ll need to build at least six more to meet our requirements on capacity, plus they’ll need to improve their roads, rail services and airport and hotel provision. In contrast, we’ve got everything in place from 1998.

What does the British Government think?

Not sure, François. The Government’s deeply unpopular at present. If English taxpayers’ money is spent on the Scotland and Wales bid – remember that both countries now have home rule – it will go down like a lead balloon with voters. They’ve got a General Election next year and they need every vote possible. Backing a white elephant won’t help them at all.

Furthermore, there’s a good chance that, if Scotland and Wales got Euro 2016, it will all go tits up. Which won’t do the England bid for the World Cup any favours.

That afternoon

French Football Federation

Boulevard de Grenelle

Paris

François Picard had enjoyed his lunch, even if it was with a potential rival in the hierarchy of football administration. He had good reason to fear Basquet who carried a lot of support because he had been been a former football international with 50 French caps in the 1980s. Picard was a graduate from the prestigious École National d’Administration and resented the fact that someone with modest educational achievements like Basquet had advanced solely because of his past sporting prowess.

On the way back to his office, Picard had been thinking about what Basquet had said. Particularly about the potential damage that a Scotland/Wales Euro 2016 could do to England’s chances of staging the 2018 World Cup if they failed to deliver.

Suddenly, it all became crystal clear. If Scotland and Wales won the right to stage the 2016 European Football Championships, it could wreck England’s chances of being successful with their bid for the 2018 World Cup. Particularly if they got into immediate difficulties with the massive programme of work required to satisfy UEFA’s requirements. If there were concerns about the ability of Scotland and Wales to stage Euro 2016, FIFA delegates might have doubts that England could do the same for the World Cup. Which would leave the road open for Russia. And there might be an added benefit of France stepping in if Scotland and Wales were unable to deliver the tournament.

The last benefit was that Gerard Basquet’s career as a leading football administrator would be finished if France lost the Euro 2016 vote.

Picard picked up the phone and rang Sergei Lavotchkin.

Sergei, François here. Further developments to report.

Go ahead.

Scotland and Wales are bidding for Euro 2016. It’s a complete no hoper. They need massive expenditure on new stadiums, roads, railways, airports and hotels. The British Government’s unlikely to support it because of the potential cost and the impact on the England World Cup bid. And neither country’s a major player in international football. There’s a strong chance both hosts would go out at Group stages. Chances are that UEFA will lose money if it’s held there.

Very interesting, François said Lavotchkin. What do you want me to do? Back the Scotland and Wales bid?

Yes replied Picard.

There was a silence for a few seconds as Lavotchkin struggled to understand what Picard had asked him to do.

François, are you serious? Are you asking me to arrange for Russia to support a rival bid for Euro 2016? You realise this would mean us voting against France.

I’m deadly serious, Sergei. The Scotland and Wales bid is a complete no hoper. But many countries are tiring of what’s seen as a closed shop of the major countries staging tournaments. There’s a chance they may get a strong sympathy vote.

Picard continued.

If Scotland and Wales are awarded Euro 2016, there’s a good chance it will undermine England’s World Cup bid. Particularly if they get behind on the work required or they go over budget. After all, they are part of the United Kingdom like England. That will increase Russia’s chances of winning the right to stage the World Cup in 2018.

What about UEFA’s General Council, François? asked Lavotchkin. Can you be sure that they will back Scotland and Wales? After all, as you said, it is not a strong bid.

I’m sure that UEFA can be persuaded, Sergei replied Picard.

CHAPTER 1

28 May 2010

UEFA Headquarters

Route de Genève 46

Nyon

Switzerland

Franz-Josef Sonnenberg, President of UEFA, stepped up to the podium inside the main press briefing room. It was clear that he was about to announce which country, or countries, would be staging Euro 2016.

Sonnenberg, a burly Austrian who had been UEFA President for the past eleven years, pulled out a piece of paper from an envelope.

Ladies and gentlemen, the following countries applied for the right to stage the European Football Championships from 10 June 2016 to 10 July 2016. They were: France, Greece and Turkey and Scotland and Wales. The votes cast in favour of each bid was as follows.

In the first round of voting, the bids from France, and from Scotland and Wales, both received thirty-eight votes. The bid from Greece and Turkey received twenty-eight votes and was eliminated.

In the second round of voting, France received five votes while Scotland and Wales received seven.

I therefore declare that UEFA will be inviting Scotland and Wales to host the 2016 European Football Championships.

A massive cheer went up from the Scottish and Welsh delegations. In contrast, the French delegation, who were expecting to win the right to stage Euro 2016, looked completely shell-shocked. For Gerard Basquet, it was a personal disaster. He had visions of succeeding Sonnenberg as UEFA President when the Austrian finally decided to stand down. He now faced the prospect of being removed as France’s UEFA Representative for his failure to bring Euro 2016 to France.

The same day

Rue Perronet

Neuilly-sur-Seine

Paris

François Picard had a silent chuckle as he heard on the late evening news that Scotland and Wales would be hosting Euro 2016. Gerard Basquet’s resignation as France’s representative on UEFA was surely imminent. And a no hoper bid had won the right to stage the world’s second most prestigious tournament.

He reached for the telephone. It would probably be midnight in Moscow, but he could not wait to let Sergei Lavotchkin know the latest news.

Sergei – is that you?

Yes, François replied Lavotchkin. You know what time it is here?

I do, Sergei. The reason I’m ringing is the news about Euro 2016.

What’s happened?

Scotland and Wales’s bid has won.

Brilliant, François. If their bid is as weak as you make out, it’ll sink England’s World Cup bid.

The next stage is to undermine Scotland and Wales’s preparations for Euro 2016, Sergei. After all, France still wants to stage it and if Scotland and Wales can’t deliver…………….

Fear not, François. Our intelligence services have got links with trade unions and environmental activists in the UK. All it will take is a few strikes and environmental protests to hold up work. And if Scotland and Wales fall behind with the work they need to do to stage the tournament, I reckon UEFA will take the tournament away from them.

And hopefully hand it to France said Picard.

1 June 2010

Cabinet Room

10 Downing Street

London

Any other business?

David Talbot, the Prime Minister, indicated it was the opportunity for Cabinet members to raise issues which were not on the agenda for the weekly Cabinet meeting. He was in his third week in post after the Conservative Party, which he led, and the Liberal Democratic Party, had agreed to form the first coalition Government in the United Kingdom since the Second World War.

Yes, Prime Minister. Karen Rolfe, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Communities and Local Government, indicated she wanted to speak.

You will all have by now heard the good news that Britain will be hosting yet another major sporting event. Scotland and Wales have won the right to hold the European Football Championships in 2016. You may wish to congratulate the Scottish Football Association and the Football Association of Wales for their success in bringing another sporting tournament to the country.

You could have at least given me earlier notice about the likely outcome of the Scotland and Wales bid boomed Hugh Greville, the Secretary of State for National Heritage. Don’t you realise the potential impact on England’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup?

Hugh, the success of the Scotland and Wales bid was a total surprise which no one thought would happen replied Rolfe. Including most members of this Cabinet. However, it has happened and my Department intends to support the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government in making Euro 2016 a success. I am fully aware of England’s World Cup bid and I support it as strongly as you and the rest of the Cabinet. But I doubt that the award of Euro 2016 to Scotland and Wales will affect England’s bid. Quite the reverse. It shows Europe and the rest of the world that the United Kingdom is more than capable of staging major sporting events, and may make it more likely that England’s World Cup bid will succeed.

Karen, have you estimated the cost of staging Euro 2016? asked Mark Rudge, the Secretary of State for Trade and Business. A former City business analyst in his mid-forties, Rudge was a rising star in the Conservative Party and was seen by some as a possible future Prime Minister.

Rudge continued.

From my experience, staging major sporting events is a very expensive business. Particularly with the gold-plated demands of the likes of UEFA. For starters, they want at least ten stadia of over 30,000 capacity. To my knowledge, there’s only four at present in either Scotland or Wales. Then there’s airports, roads and hotels. Outside Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff, things are a bit threadbare to say the least. Finally, there’s the cost of security. Al-Q’aida remain a threat and the Real IRA have started to be active again.

I’m concerned that Scotland and Wales won’t be able to afford of the costs by themselves, and they’ll be asking the English taxpayer to make up the shortfall. That won’t go down well in England.

Rolfe was however determined to hold her ground.

Mark, Euro 2016 is a golden opportunity for Scotland and Wales to sell themselves to the world and attract trade and business opportunities. Just like the Olympics will be for London. For years, we’ve been complaining that Scotland and Wales aren’t paying their way. The benefits to Scotland and Wales of staging this tournament will outweigh any initial cost and help them get back on their feet economically. I therefore think that the Government should give its support to Euro 2016.

Karen, I don’t deny that Euro 2016 is a great moment for Scotland and Wales, and I can assure you that we support it in principle said David Talbot. But I think Mark’s got a valid point. It’s going to be expensive to both provide the facilities and to stage, and I and other Cabinet members are concerned that Scotland and Wales will not be able to meet these commitments without going cap in hand to us.

You’re due to meet Alex Forsyth and Richard Morgan later this month. Talbot was referring to the quarterly intergovernmental meetings at which Rolfe would meet the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss UK and devolved Government business which had wider impacts. Forsyth and Morgan were First Ministers of, respectively, Scotland and Wales.

Can you ask them for a business plan for both providing the facilities for Euro 2016 and for staging it. And with costings. And make clear that they will be expected to fund it from their budgets or through private sector investment, except for reserved issues like immigration control and security.

Yes, Prime Minister replied Rolfe.

Finally, Karen, can you keep Hugh in the loop. Like it or not, Euro 2016 will impact on the England World Cup bid.

15 June 2010

UEFA Headquarters

Route de Genève 46

Nyon

Switzerland

Come this way, gentlemen.

Heidi Elsener, the attractive blonde Personal Assistant to Franz-Josef Sonnenberg, led the three-strong delegation from the Scottish Football Association and the Football Association of Wales into the boardroom where they were going to present their proposals for holding Euro 2016 to UEFA for approval.

Leading the way was Gordon Hunter, the Chairman of the Scottish Football Association. In his early fifties and a solicitor by profession, Hunter was a short man at five feet seven inches. Following him was Alun Williams, his counterpart from the Football Association of Wales. He was a year younger than Hunter and, at five feet six inches, even shorter. At the back followed Doug Irvine, the investment banker from Aberdeen Asset Management who had been headhunted to be Chief Executive of the Euro 2016 Delivery Authority. Irvine, a former Scottish rugby international, stood six feet four inches tall and towered over his colleagues.

In the boardroom, the UEFA General Council was already seated. Franz-Josef Sonnenberg was seated at the head of a long table. Either side of him sat the other General Council members, Giancarlo Langarotti from Italy, Jose Maria Canizares from Spain, Marc Hermans from Belgium and the newest appointee, Florin Nastase from Romania, who had taken over from Gerard Basquet who had resigned following the failure of France’s Euro 2016 bid.

Gordon, Alun, good morning said Sonnenberg. I’m delighted to see that you’ve made such quick progress in getting things moving. Who have I the pleasure of meeting? motioning towards Irvine.

Mr President, I would like to introduce Doug Irvine said Hunter. "The Chief Executive of the Euro 2016 Delivery Authority. Doug had wide business experience and is ideally suited to this post. He’ll be responsible for