English hopes were dashed yesterday afternoon as FIFA announced who would host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. After a morning of final presentations and a nail biting 3 and a half hour wait FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced at FIFA headquarters in Zurich that Russia would be the hosts of the 2018 finals while underdogs Qatar would host the 2022 tournament.
As the evening went on England bid ambassadors added anger to the disappointment of the failed bid as reports came through suggesting that England’s bid had been rejected during the first round of voting, receiving only 2 votes from a possible 22 on FIFA’s executive committee.
In the run up to the event England’s bid team felt confident of getting through the tricky first round of voting, having seemingly secured votes from a number of FIFA executives. After a very strong presentation and economic assessment of the bid, spirits were sky high, as bookmakers made England favourites in the final hour before the decision.
This morning however the bid team and the rest of the Nation awoke knowing that the dream was over and Russia, not England, would host the world’s biggest sports tournament, with fingers already being pointed and questions being asked as to why England’s 2018 bid flopped in such spectacular style.
Some are questioning the BBC’s decision to show the Panorama’s report last Monday night that accused FIFA of taking bribes for votes, right before the voting this week. Others, including former England Manager Graham Taylor, believe the World Football organisation suffers from internal corruption, and is surprised that we’re only just realising this now.
“Fifa for me is full of people who say 'yes' to your face and 'no' behind your back” Turner says. “Their reputation has not changed over many years”.
"England have had little or no influence. We are considered to be arrogant and know-alls."
Taylor went on to suggest that now should be the time that FIFA have to answer the questions they’ve been skirting around for years.
“I just have a feeling that perhaps, just perhaps, it might now be time... they really need looking into, they should really be investigated - and of course our journalists are very good at that.”
It’s thought that England will now wait until the bidding for World Cup 2030 to try and bring football home once again.
3 Dec 2010
2 Dec 2010
Ban Them!!
They should be banned. This is seemingly the only way to prevent scenes like the ones we saw last night at the Second City Derby between Aston Villa and Birmingham City in the League Cup Quarter Final.
But it’s not just the fans that I believe should be banned from grounds up and down the country. Birmingham City FC should also face repercussions for last night’s violence. A club, however unfair it may seem, is represented by its fans and their actions and must be held accountable when these sorts of incidents take place.
Last night Blues fans rushed the field and began to riot, throwing missiles into the away stand including bottles and flares. Chairs were pulled out of the stands and fans clashed with police inside the ground. If a club cannot control their supporters inside their ground and keep the stadium safe for supporters then action has to be taken against the club as well as the fans who commit such acts. Birmingham City FC must be held accountable for their failure to keep St Andrews safe yesterday.
Football continues to have the black cloud of hooliganism hanging over it, and the British football authorities have to take action to remove this sort of violence from our game. If banning Birmingham from the remainder of this years League Cup will do this then its action that must be taken. Docking points for Premier League fixtures and removing clubs from domestic and European competitions is not something anyone in football wants to see. But if that is what has to be done then surely the FA must act accordingly.
Last night has hurt not only Birmingham City FC but also the England 2018 bid. With last minute lobbying taking place yesterday and today, last nights scenes are not going to sit favourably with the FIFA executives as they look to cast their deciding votes for the hosts of World Cup 2018 and 2022.
Only once British Football is clear of fan violence can we look to be given the opportunity to host tournaments such as the European Championships or the World Cup. Last night showed that we may still not be able to keep a football ground safe for fans, which is surely a major priority for Clubs, and if we cant do that then major changes have to take place in order to keep football safe.
But it’s not just the fans that I believe should be banned from grounds up and down the country. Birmingham City FC should also face repercussions for last night’s violence. A club, however unfair it may seem, is represented by its fans and their actions and must be held accountable when these sorts of incidents take place.
Last night Blues fans rushed the field and began to riot, throwing missiles into the away stand including bottles and flares. Chairs were pulled out of the stands and fans clashed with police inside the ground. If a club cannot control their supporters inside their ground and keep the stadium safe for supporters then action has to be taken against the club as well as the fans who commit such acts. Birmingham City FC must be held accountable for their failure to keep St Andrews safe yesterday.
Football continues to have the black cloud of hooliganism hanging over it, and the British football authorities have to take action to remove this sort of violence from our game. If banning Birmingham from the remainder of this years League Cup will do this then its action that must be taken. Docking points for Premier League fixtures and removing clubs from domestic and European competitions is not something anyone in football wants to see. But if that is what has to be done then surely the FA must act accordingly.
Last night has hurt not only Birmingham City FC but also the England 2018 bid. With last minute lobbying taking place yesterday and today, last nights scenes are not going to sit favourably with the FIFA executives as they look to cast their deciding votes for the hosts of World Cup 2018 and 2022.
Only once British Football is clear of fan violence can we look to be given the opportunity to host tournaments such as the European Championships or the World Cup. Last night showed that we may still not be able to keep a football ground safe for fans, which is surely a major priority for Clubs, and if we cant do that then major changes have to take place in order to keep football safe.
The Think It's All Over. It Is Now.
Today ambassadors David Cameron, Prince William, David Beckham and Eddie Afekafe gave the final presentation to FIFA delegates in Zurich in the last process of the FIFA World Cup 2018 bid. The presentation, lasting around 40 minutes, aimed to show the Football Federation that England was ready and prepared to host the 2018 World Cup, highlighting Englands stadiums, training facilities, safety, transport and passion for the sport, as well as promoting Football United, a program that will be set up immediately, should the bid be successful, that promotes grass roots football in the UK and all over the globe.
Now the bids are in all that remains is the waiting as the FIFA delegates make their decision later this afternoon. England need 12 votes from the 22 man Executive Committee that consists of President Sepp Blatter, Senior Vice-President Julio Grondona, 6 FIFA Vice-Presidents (including Michel Plattini and two of the FIFA members featured in Panorama’s recent program on bribery and corruption within FIFA Jack Warner and Issa Hayatou.), and 14 other Members from various Nations around the world.
Despite yesterday’s violence after Birmingham’s league cup tie against Aston Villa, and Panorama’s Monday night program that featured allegations of corruption within FIFA, England’s bid team are confident that they can convince the Committee that it can produce the best World Cup in 2018.
A decision will be made today, with FIFA scheduled to announce the results of the bid campaign between 3 and 4 this afternoon
Now the bids are in all that remains is the waiting as the FIFA delegates make their decision later this afternoon. England need 12 votes from the 22 man Executive Committee that consists of President Sepp Blatter, Senior Vice-President Julio Grondona, 6 FIFA Vice-Presidents (including Michel Plattini and two of the FIFA members featured in Panorama’s recent program on bribery and corruption within FIFA Jack Warner and Issa Hayatou.), and 14 other Members from various Nations around the world.
Despite yesterday’s violence after Birmingham’s league cup tie against Aston Villa, and Panorama’s Monday night program that featured allegations of corruption within FIFA, England’s bid team are confident that they can convince the Committee that it can produce the best World Cup in 2018.
A decision will be made today, with FIFA scheduled to announce the results of the bid campaign between 3 and 4 this afternoon
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