World affairs

Former Brazilian striking legend Romario has called on former Irish Olympic Council President Pat Hickey to address a congressional committee in Brazil over concerns he has over Rio 2016.

The Brazilian striking legend, who is one of the few players in history to net over 1000 goals in his career, is now a Socialist party deputy and has some serious concerns over the allocation of tickets for the 2016 Olympics.

Hickey is now a member of the Olympic Executive Committee having been appointed in July having previousily been President of the OCI.

Romario, a striking great for Brazil and Barcelona, was elected to the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies in 2010 and is seriously concerned that the Brazilian people he has been elected to represent will get a raw deal for the Brazilian Olympics in 2016.

He has published a letter on his blog and has asked Brazilian Olympic Council President Carlos Nuzman and his friend and former Irish Judo Association President Hickey to answer some of his concerns in a Brazilian Congressional hearing.

Romario has concerns over nepotism regarding ticket allocations and criticises the set up of the Irish Olympic House in London during the recent games amongst other issues.

Romario also says “Here in Brazil will tickets for the Games be luxurious goods, and the middle class, the poor, can only attend competitions on TV?”

It’s a weird situation and Romario has had previous in giving out about FIFA and Sepp Blatter’s activities.

In an e-mail to JOE late last night notable anti-corruption journalist Andrew Jennings has said he will be "He (Hickey) will be treating the allegations very seriously because he simply cannot diss a former athlete of Romario’s stature."