Brooking nightmare won't stop knighthood

Inside Lines

Even in his footballing days, when he was regularly subjected to the ungentle persuasion of such pugnacious adversaries as Nobby Stiles and Norman Hunter, Trevor Brooking was never the victim of as damaging an over-the-top tackle as that delivered by a parliamentary committee last week. As the chairman of Sport England he stands accused of "dereliction of duty" over the "slack, slovenly and supine" organisation's handling of the Wembley fiasco. Had he been standing down in September he might have been expected to fall on his sword, instead of receiving the tap on the shoulder from the Queen. But I understand the customary knighthood accorded to all previous departing Sport England chairmen will still come his way. For Brooking is not alone in thinking the sport-unfriendly Gerald Kaufman's latest blast "a bit vindictive". It is actually gratuitously spiteful. Fortunately Brooking remains more popular than Kaufman in Downing Street. Moreover, he has done much in his four years to promote school and youth sport. Critical as this column has been over Sport England's lack of guile – and there are several non-football figures on the council who seem to have been equally bamboozled by Ken Bates – the real dereliction of duty was shown by Kaufman and co in not calling for evidence from the former Sport England chief executive Derek Casey, who never asked to explain his role in the affair before walking away with a half-million pound golden handshake. Casey was principally involved in negotiations over the controversial Lottery handout to the FA, yet Brooking is left with the sore shins.

No longer a Labour of love for Harrison

While Lennox Lewis was at Buckingham Palace last week, discussing affairs of state and collecting his CBE, Audley Harrison, MBE, continues to concentrate on the state of affairs at the other Palace, down in south London. A "dump" and a "disgrace" is how he describes his old amateur Alma Mater, throwing harder punches at the politicians than he did at that sprauncey little Essex geezer on Wednesday. Harrison's former England team-mates gather at run-down Crystal Palace tomorrow to flex their muscles for the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic champion will be taking time out to cheer them on in Manchester. Harrison has told friends he is so fed up with the way the Government he once supported treats sport he will never vote Labour again.

He has a ready-made mentor in his pal Lewis, who is now talking seriously of retirement. They could even team up in time for his next bout in September, which may appease critics as it is likely to be on the undercard if the BBC secure the world championship fight between Roy Jones and Sheffield's Clinton Woods.

Caborn steps in to Thompson dispute

The Sports Minister, Richard Caborn, has moved swiftly to intervene in the acrimonious dispute between the former world karate champion Geoff Thompson and Sport England. Last week we reported how Thompson, who runs the Manchester-based Youth Charter for Sport, was threatening legal action over what he claimed was interference in his role by the government-funded body. Caborn has now asked Thompson for written details of his complaint, and promises to investigate. On Wednesday Thompson was given an ovation at the CCPR annual meeting for his moving acceptance of an award from Prince Philip for his services to community sport. "You should be chairman of Sport England," he was told by one VIP. Now there's a thought, minister.

It seems only a wigging from the boxing promoter Frank Warren 24 hours before the event induced ITV to stump up a contribution to the Michael Watson testimonial dinner at London's Grosvenor House last week. Warren, who organised the event, said his request had gone unanswered, even though ITV had screened the ill-fated bout with Chris Eubank.

But after having his ears publicly boxed ITV sports chief Brian Barwick, who insisted he had never seen the letters or faxes, sent along commentator Jim Rosenthal to conduct a ring auction which raised £7,500 for the Watson fund. The prizes were trips to next year's Champions' League final and a Grand Prix. But as the footy is at Old Trafford and the motor racing at Silverstone, ITV seem to have got off quite lightly. Altog-ether around £165,000 was raised for Watson, including a few quid from two traffic wardens cheekily sweet-talked by Chris Eubank into making a donation rather than giving him a ticket for his truck parked outside the hotel.

We are the champions! What, at football? No, er softball, as it happens. That's a game which falls somewhere between baseball and rounders, and is one of those activities promoted by our unsung, under-funded friends at Upper Heyford.

The "sporting squat" near Oxford, which has had some notable succcesses in the less glamorous precints of sport lately, has just achieved another. The GB "slowpitch" team who include men and women, came away from Florida with the inaugural World Cup. Upper Heyford is a hive of "minority" sporting activity. Our government don't seem to know it exists but the Cuban sports minister visited recently and arranged to send two coaches.

insidelines@independent.co.uk

Exit Lines

In the ring I smelled his soul, his bareness, and he smelled mine. That kind of thing builds a camaraderie you don't find in other walks of life. Chris Eubank on his bond with his brain-damaged former opponent Michael Watson... He's nice but thin. George Best on why Tim Henman may never win Wimbledon... To chairman Peter Ridsdale and the board of directors. The ill-timed dedication by David O'Leary in the paperback version of his controversial book Leeds On Trial, which was published the day after he was sacked.