Blatter: May Brodie's legend continue to inspire

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has paid tribute to football-impassioned sports journalist Dr Malcolm Brodie MBE, who has passed away aged 86. The Northern Irishman, regarded as a “walking football encyclopedia” by the country’s First Minister Peter Robinson, reported at an incredible 14 FIFA World Cups™ - something for which he achieved the FIFA Jules Rimet Award, along with another ten media members dedicated to the competition, in 2004. In a letter to Jim Shaw and Jim Boyce, the President and Honorary Life President of the Irish Football Association respectively, Blatter wrote: “I would like to express my deepest condolences for the loss of one of the true greats of sports journalism and a personal friend of mine, Dr Malcolm Brodie. “Quality sports reporting is essential to sports organisations such as FIFA, thanks to its ability to transmit all the colour and emotions of major competitions such as the FIFA World Cup to the fans back home. There was none better at this than Malcolm, who covered an incredible 14 FIFA World Cups and whose contribution to the sport was deservedly recognised with the bestowal of the FIFA Jules Rimet Award on him in FIFA’s centennial year of 2004. “May his legend continue to inspire today’s sports reporters to promote our game and its spirit with the same passion and commitment that he did.” From FIFA