Row over psychic visit for World Cup
16th April 1998
Reading Evening Post
By SUE WARREN
PSYCHIC spoonbender Uri Geller has refuted claims by the Football Association that he lied about having the World Cup trophy delivered to his home.
Last week the Reading Evening Post revealed how the cup had been delivered to Mr Geller’s Sonning house in a limousine accompanied by officials and bodyguards, so that he could infuse it with positive energy for the tournament, and for England’s chances.
He told how he spent 10 minutes alone with the trophy and how England manager Glenn Hoddle had visited his home on a separate occasion.
But Adrian Bevington, from the Football Association, has branded Mr Geller’s claims that he had the FIFA trophy in his house as “a load of rubbish”.
Mr Bevington said: “We’ve had no contact with Uri Geller. There’s nothing in it.”
Controversy
Mr Geller last night defended his claims and said it would cause much controversy if officials admitted they had paid him a visit.
He said: “I never ever said I was officially hired by the Football Association or Glenn Hoddle.”
“I have no interest to invent a story. It is absolutely true that it was taken to my house.”
“I believe whoever gave instructions for the trophy to be brought to me will never reveal their identity.”
Mr Geller said a week ago that he had managed to sneak into Stade Velodrome in Marseille where England play their first game against Tunisia on June 15 – to place magic crystals in strategic positions. He said he would not say where the crystals were hidden.
Mr Geller said: “At the end of the day I am not a miracle worker.”
“Mr Hoddle and the team are very optimistic and I will do my best to help England win.”
Mr Geller said he had received permission on Tuesday to have the football from the 1966 World Cup in which England beat West Germany 4-2 to become world champions for the first and only time in their history.
He will hold up the ball on TV and ask viewers to touch their screens to send positive thoughts to the England squad.
He said: “It is all inspirational and the power of positive thinking.”
As part of a promotion for Asda supermarkets, the World Cup was taken on a tour of Britain in February.
An Asda spokesman said: “We know nothing about the cup’s trip to see Uri Geller.”
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