Chris Coleman wants life bans for corruption

29 September 2016 01:08

Wales manager Chris Coleman believes anyone caught "stealing money" from football should be "removed from the game permanently" in the wake of the latest series of corruption allegations.

Following the release of footage which led to the departure of England boss Sam Allardyce, and a report claiming 10 unnamed managers have been involved in illicit payments, the Daily Telegraph has unleashed new footage detailing alleged impropriety.

After being accused of taking a £5,000 'bung', Barnsley assistant Tommy Wright has been suspended by the club with immediate effect, while QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Leeds owner Massimo Cellino are also implicated in separate controversies. All three deny any wrongdoing.

Coleman, 46, wants those who are found guilty of corruption to be exiled from the game.

Speaking at a Wales squad announcement, he said: "Corruption is not about class, whether you are working class, middle class or upper class.

"You can have £100million in the bank or nothing in the bank.

"Corruption is everywhere, unfortunately. It's in governments, we've seen that, it's in all sports.

"We talk about drug-taking in athletics or cycling, we've had the stuff with FIFA. We are naive to think this stuff doesn't go on.

"What we are talking about, effectively, is people stealing money. Whether you are earning 50 grand a year or 50 grand a week, you are stealing money.

"Anyone caught doing that, they need to be removed from the game permanently. That's it. Goodnight.

"If you are earning 50 grand a year, to the average man in the street, that's a good salary, so you shouldn't be taking money.

"If you are earning 50 grand a week, why are you taking extra money? Greed? Dishonesty?

"We all belong to an industry where there is corruption - lower level, higher level. It's unforgivable.

"What are we going to do if we find out who the perpetrators are? What is the punishment? Is it a little rap on the knuckles or banishment? I know what it should be.

"If the evidence is there and they are caught, get rid of them.

"I have never ever taken a bung. I have never been approached to take a bung, and I can't sit here and say that I know anyone that has."

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic thinks those involved with football should be "totally clean".

Asked about corruption, the Croatian said: "I t's not a good thing of course.

"Make no mistake football is so popular - the number-one sport - and we should be role models, the players, the managers, there are no excuses for that.

"Football should be clean, totally clean.

"I didn't think about it, if I think about it for 20 seconds I can remember scandals in France 20 years ago, like the Italians, big scandal, fixing games and all that.

"Unfortunately it's happened and it shouldn't have. We should be clean. But with so much money involved for everybody, it's obviously hard for some of the people to stay clean."

Source: PA