Name Charlie Dempsey | ||
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Full Name Charles John Dempsey Known for Association football administrator Died June 24, 2008, New Zealand | ||
Charles John "Charlie" Dempsey (4 March 1921 – 24 June 2008) was a Scottish–born New Zealand association football administrator, whom in July 2000, infamously abstained from FIFA's final round of voting for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in a move which eventually saw the competition being awarded to Germany, rather than South Africa.
Dempsey said that he did not vote because of the "intolerable pressure" from supporters of the German and South African bids, and of the attempts that had been made to bribe him. FIFA rejected calls for a new vote, and opened an internal inquiry into the allegations of corruption.
Biography
Dempsey had led the Oceania Football Confederation from 1982 to 2000, and eventually left his position at FIFA two years early. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to soccer.
Dempsey served on FIFA's executive from 1996 to 2000, and was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit in 2004. Dempsey died on 24 June 2008, aged 87, or 86 according to some sources. He was a builder, and had emigrated with his wife to New Zealand in 1952. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.