Russia And Qatar get Wold Cup Spotlight As More Questions Are Asked About FIFA Voting Process

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.