Lord Triesman, former Labour minister and FA chair, dies aged 82

"Lord Triesman, a former Labour minister and chair of the Football Association, has died at the age of 82. The Labour party said the peer died on Friday night peacefully and at home. The former prime minister Tony Blair paid tribute to Triesman as a vital part of the New Labour movement. Labour's leader in the House of Lords, Angela Smith, described him as respected and loved by his colleagues for his courtesy, kindness, wisdom, loyalty and generosity of spirit."

"Triesman was the general secretary of the Association of University Teachers trade union and the general secretary of the Labour party before he joined Blair's government in the House of Lords in 2004. He served as a foreign office minister and then later as undersecretary of state for innovation, universities and skills. Triesman was later Labour's shadow minister for foreign affairs and also sat on several prominent select committees."

"A passionate Spurs Fan, Lord Triesman became the first patron of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and the first independent chair of the FA (Football Association) from which platform he advocated intensely against racism in football and for the increased centrality of the women's football. He later played an important role in the exposing of corruption within Fifa. In 2010, he resigned as FA chair after being secretly recorded making bribery allegations about rival countries' attempts to host the men's World Cup."

Lord Triesman died aged 82, peacefully at home on Friday night. He served as general secretary of the Association of University Teachers and later as general secretary of the Labour party. He joined the House of Lords in 2004 and held roles as foreign office minister and undersecretary of state for innovation, universities and skills. He later served as Labour's shadow minister for foreign affairs and sat on prominent select committees. He was the first patron of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and the first independent chair of the FA, campaigning against racism and for women's football. He resigned as FA chair in 2010 after a secretly recorded controversy and played a role in exposing corruption within FIFA. Tony Blair and colleagues paid tribute to his loyalty and dedication.

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