Charles Dempsey

Infobox Person
name = Charles John Dempsey


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birth_name =
birth_date = 4 March 1921
birth_place = Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland
death_date = death date and age|2008|6|24|1921|3|4|df=y
death_place = New Zealand
death_cause =
nationality = New Zealand
other_names =
known_for = Association football administrator Charles "Charlie" Dempsey, CBE, (4 March 1921 — 24 June 2008) was a Scottish-born New Zealand association football administrator cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sport/2000/2006_world_cup_decision/823600.stm|title=Charlie Dempsey: A profile|accessdate=2008-06-25|date=2000-07-07|publisher=BBC] who famously 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. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/2006_world_cup_decision/822941.stm|title=Dempsey quizzed over abstention|accessdate=2008-06-25|date=2000-07-07|publisher=BBC] Dempsey, who had previously led the Oceania Football Confederation since 1982 (the year New Zealand reached the World Cup under his leadership) cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/dempsey-dies-aged-86/2008/06/25/1214073340998.html|title=Dempsey dies, aged 86|accessdate=2008-06-25|date=2008-06-25|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald] cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7473127.stm|title=South Africa 2006 vote man dies|accessdate=2008-06-25|date=2008-06-25|publisher=BBC] , eventually left his position at FIFA two years early. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/2006_world_cup_decision/832090.stm|title=Dempsey quits Fifa|accessdate=2008-06-25|date=2000-07-13|publisher=BBC]

He served on Fifa's executive from 1996 to 2000, and was awarded the Fifa Order of Merit in 2004, He had been made a Commander of the British Empire in New Zealand in 1982 for services to soccer.

Dempsey died on 24 June 2008, aged 87, or 86 according to. He was a builder, and had emigrated with his wife to New Zealand in 1952. He was aged 87, and is survived by his wife and two daughters [ Obituary: "Popularising the beautiful game" in Dominion Post, 3 July 2008 page B7 ] .

References