Greg Dykes Expensive Wrist Watch

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29257077

While he says that he "didn't know the value of the watch" when it was given to him, he fails to explain why he accepted this blatant bribe in the first place.

Why did he think that the Brazilian Fa gave him the watch in the first place.....so that he would be able to tell the time and not be late for meetings ? Bribes have perhaps always been given but the bribers don't even try to hide their activities any more.

This whole affair stinks.

[Jomlett]

He's never had time for me!

[jno]

he didn't "accept it", it was just left in his room. He says he didn't use it, which sounds perfectly plausible if he had a watch already; nobody wears two. As for knowing its value, do you check the value of things people give you? Not everyone does, though of course some will immediately go to eBay to look.

[mikey4444]

It was an obvious bribe jno, and someone like Dyke should have realised that straightaway. He should have spoken out immediately and he didn't, nor does it appear that anybody else did, unto the Press got hold of this.

[Retrochic]

mikey the watch was not given to him it was left in a hotel room. Ithink he is probably very embarrassed that he did not open the 'gift' bag sooner and have the opportunity to return the gift. I agree the whole affair stinks but the smell is coming from South America.

[jno]

obvious bribe to do what, mikey?

[mikey4444]

I agree Retro...but what about the other 64 watches ?

[mikey4444]

From my link :::::

Fifa's ethics committee said in a statement: "The CBF should not have offered the watches, and those who received gift bags should have promptly checked whether the items inside were appropriate and, upon discovering the watch, either returned it or reported the matter"

[Ellipsis]

He said he had no idea of the value. It doesn't say much about the watch, that he thought it looked so cheap that he needn't worry about declaring it.

It would be interesting to know the make of watch. I would expect Dyke to know that something like a Rolex or Patek Philippe was a valuable gift.

[mikey4444]

The value of the watch is immaterial here. It was obviously offered as a bribe, and the above policy from FIFA should have been adhered to, and it wasn't, which is why this investigation is on-going.

[Retrochic]

Its the Brazilain FA that needs banging to rights not the people who were given the gifts. Though to be honest, if I found a 'gift' bag in my hotel room the contents would be well and truly rifled through and anything found 'inappropriate' would be declared, to cover my back.

[jno]

I repeat: a bribe to do what? If it isn't done in expectation of something in return, it isn't a bribe, it's a gift.

[Retrochic]

jno I think its something to do with the bidding processes on the world cup

[jackthehat]

I don't suppose Dykes Hotel Room was anything like a Travelodge room (other Budget Hotels are available) and possibly having seen the gift-bag he had nothing further to do with it but it ended up packed in his luggage and returned home with him.

A lot of fuss about nothing, but the blame lies with the Brazilian FA....even though, as the competition was already underway in Brazil, I can't see what they could possibly be bribing anyone to do....

[Ellipsis]

jno and jth, it could be a "Thank you for awarding us the World Cup", which like a bribe after the event. It smacks of the corruption that pervades FIFA. Expensive gifts are what their officials expect in return for their largesse.

I do think the make and appearance of the watch is material if you're going to accept Dyke's explanation that he didn't know its value. He's implying that he thought the value would be trivially small and not embarrassingly large. Most corporations have guidelines about the value of gifts that can be given or received. For example, Google's says:

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Generally, acceptance of inexpensive “token” non-cash gifts is permissible. In addition, infrequent and moderate business meals and entertainment with clients and infrequent invitations to attend local sporting events and celebratory meals with clients can be appropriate aspects of many Google business relationships, provided that they aren’t excessive and don’t create the appearance of impropriety. Before accepting any gift or courtesy, consult the Non-Government Related Gifts & Client Entertainment Policy, and be aware that you may need to obtain manager approval.
------------------------------

See https://investor.google.com/corporate/code-of-conduct.html#toc-gifts-and-courtesies - I doubt FIFA's policies are worded this way!

[youngmafbog]

Jno, if you worked in banking you woukd find you de finition would not be accepted.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. An expensive giftis always seen as a bribe.

[agchristie]

Extraordinary. A watch turns up in his hotel room and knowing where it has come from, Dyke fails to see the significance of accepting the 'gift'.

This is another example of distrust and suspicion in the governing body. It's a shambles. The whole bidding process, especially over the award to Oman, makes a mockery of transparency and integrity in the so called 'beautiful game'.

[jno]

youngmafbog, bankers have a continuing relationship with clients; a gift might well have a bearing on future transactions. That wasn't the case here. Brazil had already won the competition to stage the World Cup (and was doing so), Dyke wasn't involved (well before his time, I think), and there was simply nothing to gain from giving him a watch.

If the FA doesn't want people accepting gifts, fine, and if there's something in individual contracts saying so then Dyke has been in breach of it. But this wasn't a bribe in the normal meaning of the word.

[jomifl]

Corporate gift surely, bribes are for peope who need the money.

[sandyRoe]

A bigshot in NI football circles is also returning a similar watch. His was in an unopened bag in his garage. He's lucky he didn't throw the unopened bag into the bin.

[campbellking]

Platini's not giving his back, he's 'an intelligent man'