Des Casey's status as an influential personality in the politics of European football, was endorsed yesterday with his re-election to UEFA's Executive Committee at their annual congress in Dublin.
In an uncommonly large poll in which 14 candidates offered themselves for election, all six outgoing members of the organisation's most powerful committee, were returned for another four-year term. Even more remarkable, was the fact they were elected on the first count.
Senes Erzik of Turkey topped the poll with 40 votes, one more than Angel Maria Villar Llona of Spain, with Casey on 38. The other successful candidates were Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia) 33, Frantisek Chvalovsky (Czech Republic) 29, and Giangirgio Spiess (Switzerland) 27.
Keith Wiseman, chairman of the English FA, who was contestng the election for the first time, received 16 votes, scarcely a happy augury for England's prospects of receiving UEFA's backing to host the World Cup finals in 2006, in preference to Germany.
Casey, a 66-year-old industrial relations consultant from Dundalk, will continue to take charge of UEFA's Youth Committee and leaves this morning to watch the final stages of the European under-16 championship, currently being staged in Scotland.
"I was delighted with the amount of support I received," he said. "I had pitched my ambition at getting an absolute majority on the first count and thought that if I was very lucky, I might scrape 30 votes. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that 38 of the 51 national delegations voted for me and that I eventually finished third in the count.
"It is, I believe, an important honour for the FAI. It's great for a small country like ours to be involved in the decision making process and I think it says a lot for the democratic structure of the game in Europe.
"This has been one of the biggest of all UEFA congresses and visiting delegates have been generous in their praise of the FAI's part in organising it. That, too, is a good boost for the country."
Apart from the elections and presentation of accounts, the other main business of the day was to accelerate the campaign to have UEFA's President, Lennart Johansson elected President of FIFA in Paris in June, in succession to Dr Joao Havelange.
Havelange, who was presented with an order of merit award to mark his impending retirement, refrained, publicly at least, from involving himself in an increasingly bitter struggle between Johansson and FIFA's former General Secretary, Josef S Blatter for the vacancy.
Not so, Johansson. "Football, not politics, will always come first on my agenda," he told his somewhat bemused audience. "People ask why am I standing for election and I tell them its because the time for change has come - for the good of football."
"Democracy is a key element of my vision for the game and I am committed to a fair distribution of power, money and events. I feel very strongly committed to the principles of delegation and subsidiarity."
During yesterday morning's session, Johansson had a video shown to delegates in which Pele was seen to back his candidature in what was scarcely a pretty sight for Havelange. Having earlier announced that he enjoyed the support of 50 of the 51 European nations, he announced yesterday that he now has the backing of the Confederations of Africa and Oceania.
"When I become FIFA President, there will be no hidden agendas," he said. "My victory will be the victory of everybody involved in football because my theories have constantly proved their worth."
Chelsea's Italian striker Gianfranco Zola is almost certain to miss the rest of the season - including the European Cup Winner's Cup final against Stuttgart in Stockholm on May 13th.
Zola, who damaged a groin muscle in last Saturday's 4-1 win over Liverpool, is in Italy consulting a trusted specialist. But the Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli admitted yesterday : "It's going to be very difficult for him. Franco has never had an injury like this and although he is hoping it will clear up in maybe two weeks, nothing more has been established."
Frank Sinclair, who injured his groin in Chelsea's Coca-Cola Cup final win over Middlesbrough a month ago, is also in doubt for Stuttgart after his recovery was stalled by a calf muscle strain.
Dennis Wise, the captain, ids still hampered by a toe injury that may require surgery.
