Teixeira brands English press as ‘corrupt’ and refuses to field questions over Brazil World Cup

Teixeira, who recently branded the British as “pirates”, yesterday accused the English media of being “corrupt”.

The 64-year-old, who is also a FIFA executive committee member, refused to answer questions following a presentation on Brazil’s World Cup host cities in Rio de Janeiro.

He said: “No English press.” Asked why not, he replied: “Because they’re corrupt.”

Teixeira has been infuriated by allegations made by BBC’s Panorama that he received bribes from the collapsed FIFA marketing agency ISL. He was also named by ex-FA chairman Lord Triesman in Parliament as one of four FIFA members who made improper demands during England’s 2018 World Cup campaign, though FIFA have since cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Teixeira’s hardline stance could become a worry for the Football Association but they are refusing to get drawn into the controversy ahead of the draw today when England will be in the pot of top seeds for the European qualifying competition.

FA general secretary Alex Horne has arrived in Rio along with England manager Fabio Capello but is not due to meet Teixeira. There has been bridge-building with FIFA, however, with Horne and FA chairman David Bernstein having met the world governing body’s president Sepp Blatter in Zurich last week, two months after having led an unsuccessful attempt to prevent him standing unopposed in the election.

FA insiders have described the meeting as “very constructive” with Blatter apparently showing no hard feelings over their opposition.

Teixeira’s stance may present longer-term difficulties, however. In an interview in the Piaui Herald last month he said Triesman had made the allegations because he was angry they had lost the bid.

He recounted instances of English arrogance and even bad-mouthed English cuisine.

Teixeira said: “Triesman is having to explain how he spent $50m, $15m of which was government funds, on England’s campaign for the Cup. It’s an absurd cost, there’s no justification. They just can’t take it.”

The FA are more concerned with the nuts and bolts of playing a World Cup in a country as vast and complicated as Brazil.

Capello will be little more than an interested observer at the draw for it has already been announced he will be moving on after Euro 2012 and before the qualifying competition starts.