Thompson confesses to divine inspiration in running the game

The workings of the Football Association have long been a mystery to many. Now Geoff Thompson, the organisation's chairman, has revealed that he is divinely driven. "Called upon" by God to lead the national game, the 56-year-old said that his faith had not only helped him deal with recent criticism but protected him in life-threatening situations.

"When I get in a difficult period I say 'come on Lord, help me' and it happens – amazingly so," Thompson said. "I was at a match in Salerno when someone threw a bomb on the pitch and I was also held up by bandits on the way to Minsk, but I always felt someone guiding me. Suddenly someone would arrive, who shouldn't have been there, and say 'How can I help you?'

"I believe in God, Jesus Christ and the afterlife. I believe in being a good Samaritan."

Thompson added that he was "elected chairman and called upon for a reason". And he said he will stand for re-election – for another four-year term – in 18 months' time, despite being branded a coward for not backing the FA's former chief executive, Adam Crozier, in the latter's power struggle with the Premier League.

"I'm human and can't help but be hurt by the criticism," Thompson said. "It has been unfair, although there are issues I might have dealt with better. But my faith has helped me."

Football folk and pubic religious statements have sometimes spectacularly failed to mix. Glenn Hoddle resigned as the manager of England in the wake of controversial comments he made about his religious beliefs, specifically reincarnation. And David Icke, the former Coventry goalkeeper, stunned the nation in 1991 when he said on the Wogan television show that he was the son of God. He has since modified his views and now says the world is run by 12ft lizards.

A spokesman for the Church of England, applauded Thompson's comments on his own beliefs. "It's laudible that he's prepared to stand up and be identified and be a Christian and we applaud him telling the story about his faith being an important component of his life," Arun Kataria said. "It's a decision entirely for public figures to make about when it is appropriate to refer to their faith or not."