Fifa faces credibility test
The official agenda for the meeting of Fifa's executive committee on Thursday and Friday could hardly be more bland. Let me give you a little taste of it just to whet your appetite:
"Reports and Updates on the 2010 Fifa World Cup, 2014 Fifa World Cup, 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups, and the 2010 Fifa Women's Under 20 and Under 17 World Cups."
Important stuff, of course, but hardly fascinating. The reality, as we all know, is going to be very different.
Hidden behind the words on the agenda "2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups" lie allegations so serious that the credibility of the whole bidding process is in question.
This is going to be one of the most important meetings in the organisation's recent history. Fifa somehow has to find a way to bring some transparency to the election for the two host nations. If not, then whoever wins on December 2nd is going to face, at best, nudges, winks and innuendo for years to come.
All 24 members of the Fifa executive committee should have been in Zurich for the meeting. There will, of course, only be 22.
Two members have been suspended following the allegations in the Sunday Times about cash for votes. The cases of those two won't be considered by Fifa's ethics committee until the middle of November, but nobody is under the illusion that their suspension will enable this all to go away.
Fifa's difficulty is that traditionally it's been very slow to react when confronted by problems. In the past, allegations about the organisation have normally been brushed aside.
Transparency isn't a word that springs to mind when talk turns to Fifa. In fact, until a year ago, the rules of the contests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were seen to be so sensitive by Fifa that they remained a secret. Bidding nations were sent a copy but only on the condition that they weren't disclosed to any outside parties.
I'm not normally one to blow my own trumpet, but I hope that on this one occasion you'll forgive me a short blast. I spent a great deal of time at the end of last year pushing Fifa to publish the rules. I'd revealed that England had bought designer handbags for the wives of all the Fifa voters, but nobody could actually tell me if that was an infringement of the rules, because the rules were a secret. It was a farcical situation.
Eventually, Fifa got so fed up with my constant emails and phone calls that it finally agreed to publish the regulations on its website.
It's those same regulations which have been scrutinised in so much detail over recent weeks as the various allegations have emerged. Now, I'm not expecting thanks from Fifa any time soon, but deep down President Sepp Blatter must be grateful that I did push him to publish. Just imagine if the Sunday Times had gone to press with their revelations and the rules of the contest had still remained a secret.....
By the way, for those of you who are interested, here's a link to the most relevant rules of conduct for bidding nations.
So what Fifa needs to do this week is show that it's a changed organisation. That nervousness of putting any information into the public domain has to be conquered fast.
If the votes for 2018 and 2022 are to have any credibility at all then Fifa will need to make the process so transparent that even the most cynical members of the public can be convinced. That means that Fifa is going to have to do something which in the past has not come naturally. It's going to have to tell everybody what's going on.
This week, the Fifa executive committee will decide the format for the voting. Some of the most damaging allegations have centred around potential collusion between candidates for 2018 and 2022. Fifa has to come up with a process that prevents that, and then tell us what that process is. Nobody is pretending that will be easy.
The latest spat between England and Russia illustrates how the tension is building amongst the competing nations as December 2nd approaches.
England are unlikely to gain much from lodging a complaint about comments attributed to Alexei Sorokin, the leader of Russia's bid, on London's "high crime rate" and youth alcohol problems. The fact that a complaint has been lodged at all, though, is probably a reflection on how difficult this contest has become for all those involved in it.
An electorate of 24 is so small that one slip can influence one vote, and potentially the outcome of the whole thing. When that electorate possibly begins to shrink, with the suspension of two members just weeks before the vote, it's hardly surprising that the bidding nations begin to show the strain. Their carefully planned strategies might have to be thrown out of the window if some members are prevented from voting.
I've been asked over and over again during recent days what I believe will be the impact of the Sunday Times allegations on the England bid. Well, in many ways the answer is up to Sepp Blatter and Fifa. What all those who love international football should hope is that these allegations will increase the chances of the best candidates for 2018 and 2022 actually winning.
You don't need me to tell you how big is the prize at stake. The 22 men who will sit around a table in Zurich this week have a responsibility to the rest of the world to get this right.
The vote on December 2nd must be seen to be squeaky clean. If not, then the members of the Fifa executive committee will be well aware that it's their positions of power, which some of them cherish so much, that will be questioned by football lovers all over the globe.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~02~RS~)
I've been a Sports News Correspondent since 2001. During that time I've covered three World Cups, two Summer Olympics, two Winter Olympics and plenty more besides - so you won't be surprised when I tell you that I believe that I have one of the best jobs in the business. You can also follow me on 
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"I'm not normally one to blow my own trumpet...... I'd revealed that England had bought designer handbags for the wives of all the Fifa voters"
well done, something for you to be very proud of there. Nothing like damaging your own countrys World Cup bid when you're a football journalist eh?
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two words.. jack warner.. bear woods.. pope catholic.. straight dye.. power corrupts..
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Who are the majority of countries who keep the top FIFA officials in power? Well I expect that they can do no wrong.
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I for one think that England will defiantly win the bid. With Paul from Germany predicting England will win and Russia having problems and the other countries won't offer that different feeling you get with each World cup.
South Africa was good because it was different to other World cups. But England's biggest problem with the bid is that the other countries do not like England. Saying that we have better stadiums and an olympics as well as the Commonwealths in glasgow, so we are more prepared with better stadiums.
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It's obvious Russia will win the bid even tough our bid is better. FIFA only care about one thing - money. And the Russians can promise FIFA more money than we can. Sadly, it is as simple as that.
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I think England for 2018 and Australia for 2022. England is a traditional centre of football and they haven't hosted since 1966! Australia has never hosted the world cup and they are up against 3 bids that have hosted the world cup in the last 16 years!! (Qatar doesn't count. That bid is equivalent to having the world cup entirely in only half of Birmingham!)
Maybe FIFA should just go off the technical inspection reports. They are relatively neutral
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what nationalities are these two officials?
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I find Alexei Sorokin's comments about London astounding when I have witnessed children as young as eight or ten knife fighting for the rights to wash cars on a street corner of Moscow. Pot, kettle, black?
The sheer cost of Moscow/Russia for visitors should rule Russia out of this World Cup race... just ask those who have travelled for European matches or on business.
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"Reports and Updates on the 2010 Fifa World Cup, 2014 Fifa World Cup, 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups, and the 2010 Fifa Women's Under 20 and Under 17 World Cups."
Bland are they, except for the 2018 bid?
Surely that is the problem. If attention was paid to getting the method correct, the process entirely open and transparent for some of the lesser competitions (where there is much less media pressure), surely by knock on the criteria for all competition decisions would be better for it.
Whoever wins a hosting competition is going to be open to criticism from some quarter unless the vote is unanimous. IMO the vote should be as close to unaminous as possible since it suggests objectivity rather than subjectivity.
If FIFA is to clean up its act then there must be consistent pressure throughout all competition until they get it right. That means the media having a serious look at the decision making in lesser competition.
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FIFA should sort this problem out soon and do not let it to continue.
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4. didr09 wrote
I for one think that England will defiantly win the bid. With Paul from Germany predicting England will win
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Was his prediction in death?
Sigh, I've got nothing more to say on this issue - if we don't get it, then FIFA is a lost cause for us
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Surely the simplest answer to stopping candidates for 2018 and 2022 voting for each other is to bar any representative from a possible host country voting in the alternate contest. So England, Russia, Spain etc. can't vote on the 2022 host country and vice versa.
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The whole process is ripe for corruption. FIFA needs to be be completly restructured and the power taken back to the people who ARE football....the fans. Sooner or later fans, both nationally and internationally, need to become organised and demand change using their vast numbers to force the issue.
Blatter and his cohorts spend the majority of their time swaning around the world being trested like royalty. They are pandered to everywhere....even by heads of state....just because the WC has become such a lucrative proposition. They therefore have no incentive whatsoever to simplify the process and make it fair for all.
The money spent on these campaigns is obscene when you consider where else it could be channeled. The World Cup should be rotated around the geographies. When your turn arrives the local branch of FIFA should nominate its candidate based on 1.A country not previously having had the chance to host and 2. Their ability to host the event and put forward a satisfactory proposal.
Enough of the politics and wasted money....and most of all the endless circus that surrounds these FIFA power seekers and the sychophants who pander to them.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
It's quite simple, as we have just had a World Cup in a developing/non-traditional football country and set to have a novelty World Cup in 2022, with Australia bidding against Qatar and yawn, yawn, Japan and USA (who both hosted highly uninteresting World Cups in the past 20 years and have little feel or passion as a whole for the game), the 2018 World Cup should come to a proper traditional footballing country that is set up for the game already and risk-free (given there are big concerns over the next World Cup in Brazil).
Russia is far from risk free, and despite their official's comments, have far wider problems of crime and acoholism than in the UK. You can add to that the following: corruption/Russian mafia, proven and persistent racism in their grounds, hooliganism which is more prevelant than in England, andstadia and infrastucture that are not built (England's stadia is there to see and the transport system is not the best in the World, but you'll be able to travel to London to any of the host city in 3 hours by train) - we have problems with the Wembley pitch, we are slowly being rectified: they can't even be bothered to use grass pitches, what a disprespect to the traditions of the game (of course FIFA allowed this).
The Spain/Portugal and Benelux bids should be instantly discounted as countries such as Spain and Holland really should be able to host a World Cup alone - the fact that they can't is pathetic.
I'd suggest that if the Russian FA does not retract its statement, someone from the FA should point out just what I have said above (maybe in front of a poster of the Moscow fans views of the now West Brom player - all good and OK with the stadium's authorities and Police and defenced by the Russian FA), not that FIFA will listen, as I am sure that they have already made their decision and it will not be decided on whose bid is best, otherwise England would walk it as the evidence is there (i.e. we could host a World Cup on our own tomorrow, if required).
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I think the story and poster below is all that those who are considering the bid need consider:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9027968.stm
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Perhaps the most amusing thing about this whole saga is that the NOTW/Sunday Times is owned not by Brits but by an American.
So an American owned media empire dishes the dirt, then writes a few days later that 'FIFA officials are annoyed and England's bid will suffer'.
Let me get that straight: America dishes the dirty, England suffers.
It appears to me that the US-Russian alliance is in full swing. With England as the patsy.
Noticeable that a US franchise owner is in town this week 'wanting to host Premier league matches in San Fran'.
Has anyone studied how the 'founding fathers' swindled Manhattan from the Indians?
Because I think it goes along the lines of 'making your hosts pay for the right to let you burgle their crown jewels'............
I'm sure those principles are entirely what Mr Blatter's dream for football in society are, aren't they????
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Also, to the author:
"I'm not normally one to blow my own trumpet, but I hope that on this one occasion you'll forgive me a short blast. I spent a great deal of time at the end of last year pushing Fifa to publish the rules. I'd revealed that England had bought designer handbags for the wives of all the Fifa voters, but nobody could actually tell me if that was an infringement of the rules, because the rules were a secret. It was a farcical situation."
Well done, great to see you are pleased with yourself in doing your small bit to attempt to ruin our World Cup bid. Have you ever considered joining the Daily Mail or teaming up with Lord Trieseman to cause some real damage to our bid?
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"(Qatar doesn't count. That bid is equivalent to having the world cup entirely in only half of Birmingham!)"
Birmingham is a city within England and therefore would be a moronic decision to award the FIFA World Cup to Birmingham only.... Qatar is actually a country - albeit a small one - and therefore falls into FIFA's criteria far better than even the Spain/Portugal or Benelux bids.
Your comment shows how arrogant some sports fans are when it comes to belittling smaller countries. Qatar has one of the most modern sports academy complexes anywhere in the world.
Whilst I agree that the big footballing nations should host these tournaments more often than not, the developing football world should not be overlooked.
Personally I think Qatar have one of the stronger bids for 2022 and would welcome a World Cup where all 64 matches were held within easy travelling distance for any fan from any nation who is there. Qatar might make for an unusual destination for fans and players but if they can deal with the security/policing in such a small area and the potentially adverse weather conditions (which they have already addressed) then they have a right to put in a strong bid.
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I find it amusing that some people in Britain still think of Russia as a backward country. Perhaps it is frustration that this county is on the wane and theirs has been on the way up. Reverting of course to 'Russian Racism' and the fact they play on synthetic pitches (in winter, when its -30 - try playing on a grass one)
Russia is investing in youth football rather than leaving the responsibility to 5 or 6 privatly owned clubs, who are going to buy foreign players anyway. On top of a league that is ranked sixth in Europe. People talk about mafia roaming the streets, crime and alcoholism and all. Yet in Russia I felt completly safe going for a walk after midnight - more so than catching a train in London after nightfall.
The Russian Authorities explained the meaning behind the banner, not that its anybodys business anyway. The stadia sre mostly already prepared (CSKA, Spartak, Sochi) The infrastucture is a lot better than you would think.
In addition to that to discount Belgium and Holland beacuse they are small countries is crazy. This bid was actually as strong as the Russian one given the shorter distances and the fact that EURO 2000 was an exemplary tournement. They have never hosted it before.
Here the games would be overpriced, probably sold to Sky, plus we would have to listen to years of hype about how Rooney is going to win it single handedly.
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Sorry James but I think you and some of your friends on here need to get off your high horse. Surely one of the greatest apparent FIFA "scandals" resulting from continued manipulation of FIFA decisionmakers is the fact that there remains separate England, Scotland, Wales and Nthn Ireland teams in the World Cup rather than a unified British team! No milage (ie sales) in Sunday Times / NOTW investigating that one I guess.
And open your eyes about the ability of countries to stage this fantastic event. England could put on a great world cup for sure, but South Africa (and Greece/Beijing/Sydney) has shown us clearly that so could Russia, Qatar, Australia,etc. The world has moved on boys........
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"This bid was actually as strong as the Russian one given the shorter distances and the fact that EURO 2000 was an exemplary tournement."
Euro 2000 was an awfully organised tournament (to be fair mainly the Belgium part of it). Ridiculously over-zealous policing that caused moe porblems than they solved (again, mainly in the French part of Belgian - the Dutch policed the games much more sensibly). There were also matches in dangerous, ramshackle stadia with capacities of around 30,000. I believe that the biggest stadium at that tournament was 60,000, which is totally unsatfisfactory and will need to be improved for the World Cup.
"Here the games would be overpriced, probably sold to Sky...." Irrelevant/incorrect. FIFA will decide the prices for World Cup games - I paid over £150 for several games in South Africa, which is way above face value ticket prices in England, even in the Premiership. All World Cup games must be shown on terrestrtial TV.
The lack of patriotism from people is beyond belief - if you don't like our country and don't want the World Cup here, fair enough, but don't make things up!
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#24 - you make some interesting arguments re Qatar. I can't say I am enthused by any of the 2022 contenders - USA and Japan have hosted average/poor World Cups in recent years and showed a lack of understanding (appreciation in the USA) for the game. Australia is not a football country, involves massive travel between stadia; I also fear that they may just plonk football pitches in cricket stadia like they do for rugby and Aussie rules, which is totally unsatfisfactory.
Your argument for Qatar is interesting and encouraging. One thing I fear is that there is a rumour that a World Cup in Qatar would be "dry". All joking aside, and nobody wants to see loutish drunkeness, but such lack of liberty and respect for the majority of the competing nations culture would be somewhat concerning. Having a beer before the match, has been part of the game since its inception, and not just in the UK.
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Euro 2000 was an awfully organised tournament (to be fair mainly the Belgium part of it). Ridiculously over-zealous policing that caused moe porblems than they solved (again, mainly in the French part of Belgian - the Dutch policed the games much more sensibly). There were also matches in dangerous, ramshackle stadia with capacities of around 30,000. I believe that the biggest stadium at that tournament was 60,000, which is totally unsatfisfactory and will need to be improved for the World Cup.
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I never said that either the Russian or Benelux bid were without their problems. Every tournement has its problems.
However, a lot of people are willing to look at 'solutions' for the South Africa bid, yet nitpick over fine details and find 'problems' when it comes to Russia or Belgium.
I definatly dont want the world cup here - after the scandal over the Olympic Village for London 2010 it proves we pay through the nose yet derive no benefit from it.
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So rl - you think that a journalist should conceal the truth about a serious issue, just because he happens to come from a country that's bidding to host the World Cup? What an idiot!
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22. At 08:37am on 27 Oct 2010, rjaggar wrote:
Perhaps the most amusing thing about this whole saga is that the NOTW/Sunday Times is owned not by Brits but by an American.
So an American owned media empire dishes the dirt, then writes a few days later that 'FIFA officials are annoyed and England's bid will suffer'.
Let me get that straight: America dishes the dirty, England suffers.
It appears to me that the US-Russian alliance is in full swing. With England as the patsy.
Noticeable that a US franchise owner is in town this week 'wanting to host Premier league matches in San Fran'.
Has anyone studied how the 'founding fathers' swindled Manhattan from the Indians?
Because I think it goes along the lines of 'making your hosts pay for the right to let you burgle their crown jewels'............
I'm sure those principles are entirely what Mr Blatter's dream for football in society are, aren't they????
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Great conspiracy theory, but the guy who owns NOTW/Sunday Times is Austrailian.
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Excellent report James..I'm surprised you made it past the BBC's moderators criticising Fifa and Mr. Blatter though? ;)
The focus of your arguement about winning bidders being tagged with claims of bribery and innuendo for years to come is completely valid..but hasn't that been the case for all bids to host major sporting events from the year dot - whatever the sport? We can't fool ourselves that politics and simple economics hasn't always played a significant role.
It's great trying to get more transparency in the voting system though and that has to be encouraged but your final statement implying that the process 'must be seen to be squeaky clean' simply means Fifa will release the info it wants the public to see as a smokescreen! For example, will the English 'gift' of handbags to voters' wives have to be declared at customs ;) A completely impartial World body needs to be set up to police it...maybe interpol! ;)
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"26. At 09:09am on 27 Oct 2010, sadowlfan wrote:
Sorry James but I think you and some of your friends on here need to get off your high horse. Surely one of the greatest apparent FIFA "scandals" resulting from continued manipulation of FIFA decisionmakers is the fact that there remains separate England, Scotland, Wales and Nthn Ireland teams in the World Cup rather than a unified British team! No milage (ie sales) in Sunday Times / NOTW investigating that one I guess.
And open your eyes about the ability of countries to stage this fantastic event. England could put on a great world cup for sure, but South Africa (and Greece/Beijing/Sydney) has shown us clearly that so could Russia, Qatar, Australia,etc. The world has moved on boys........"
I actually agree with your point about many countries being able to host the WC. I also personally think it would be best for us not to win the bid. Unsustainable stadia (if you think that we wont have to build any new ones I think you may be being a bit naive and out of MK Dons, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol City I think only Bristol may be able to sustain a new stadium - no disrespect to anyone intended i live in plymouth and I know they would struggle), followed by a strict enforcement of only FIFA approved outlets/merchandise/vendors etc. All in all adds up to a big payday for the footballing "great and good" and little change to the man in the street.
However all that is irrelevant to my point to you which is - why wouldnt we have Welsh, Scottish, English and NI footballing team each. We have different FAs. We have different leagues (Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and County obviously stayed with the FA), and we are from different countries. If you consider yourself British then fair play, but most people I know are English/Welsh/etc first and foremost.
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What would happen if the national FAs just ignored FIFA? Over technology, for instance. If the Premier introduced technology in its games what could FIFA do about it? Could they seriously boycott a national FA? Could they stop the clubs from competing in the CL or the national team from competing in the WC without a serious crisis?
Time for national FAs to stand up and be counted and rid the sport of corruption and sloth at the highest levels.
It's also time for the ultimate customer, the fans, to be not only taken into consideration or consulted, but actually coopted onto these "august" bodies to bring a bit of common sense and reality in to the decisions.
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media power matters.. how importance British media given to football in comparision to Americans. And of course its DOHA money, that will matters.
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Would it not be simpler just to have a much larger panel of voters? Having a number as low as 24 opens the bidding up to bribery, pressure, or the whim of individuals. Have a much larger number of voting delegates and it becomes prohibitive to keep them all in your pocket.
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Surely the easiest way of maing sure that these bids are completely open and fair is to randomly pick 22 members in a lottery style draw and then let them vote on who gets the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. That might upset the current voting panel but it will prove that FIFA are open and fair.
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A few comments:
1: Surely FIFA should just agree the order which region hosts (i.e. EU, Asia etc..) then the event should be rotated around the regions. Then each region qhold rotate it around the countries, starting with those that haven't done it before but can. No need for voting just a very clear defined process, which cold allow siginificant planning to be done ahead of time. FIFA only come in to play to manage the rules, change rotation if regions develop etc.
2: While the press need to be free, there is little doubt that our press (perhaps because it is free) has, and is liekly to in the future, damage an England bid (or other UK bid probably). They tend to report 'bad-press' and the risk to FIFA of something bad being brought up that damages FIFA is high so FIFA have little incentive as is to agree a FIFA bid - UK surely gets negative point for hassle
3: It surprises me that Spain are allowed to put in joint bids, especially though perhaps it is the pre-cursor to a EU bid with matches throghout europe with the final in the EU capital.
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Andrew Jennings's excellent book 'Foul!' covers, in great detail, some of the murky goings on in Fifa... well worth a read. Its high time Blatter and co. were hung out to dry.
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@31, did the yanks write the story.
This is how it is, this is a political battle already won by the English, when the select committee cast their vote, the only thing in their minds will be to preserve their right to select future hosts and all the perks that it may bring. We,ve done nothing more than intimidate the select committee with these articles, but then again, alls fair in love and war. England v Russia for the right to host 2018 is the equivalent of Man Utd v Blythe Spartans in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.
The only question is....will the Times use their sister papers infamous headline "It was us what won it"
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In reference to the bid process, two thoughts occurred:
1). Statements concerning other member associations.
Imagine if our UK politics were conducted in this manner (i.e. not allowed to say anything about other candidatures)? It might be refreshing, perhaps?
2). Gifts
Perhaps the FA were demonstrating a surprising comedic touch with their offer, here. Imagine the Manderin wags in a five star hotel with handbags at five paces slugging it out - that might be worth an entrance fee....
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FIFA is facing a credibility test? Have people forgotten The BBC Panorama documentary The Beautiful Bung - Corruption and the World Cup?
FIFA under Sepp Blatter has never had any credibility.
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31. At 09:41am on 27 Oct 2010, johneboy1886 wrote:
22. At 08:37am on 27 Oct 2010, rjaggar wrote:
Perhaps the most amusing thing about this whole saga is that the NOTW/Sunday Times is owned not by Brits but by an American.
So an American owned media empire dishes the dirt, then writes a few days later that 'FIFA officials are annoyed and England's bid will suffer'.
Let me get that straight: America dishes the dirty, England suffers.
It appears to me that the US-Russian alliance is in full swing. With England as the patsy.
Noticeable that a US franchise owner is in town this week 'wanting to host Premier league matches in San Fran'.
Has anyone studied how the 'founding fathers' swindled Manhattan from the Indians?
Because I think it goes along the lines of 'making your hosts pay for the right to let you burgle their crown jewels'............
I'm sure those principles are entirely what Mr Blatter's dream for football in society are, aren't they????
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Great conspiracy theory, but the guy who owns NOTW/Sunday Times is Austrailian.
========================================
Ah yes - he has also taken American citizenship. Let the theories continue! Does he have a white cat?
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34. At 09:45am on 27 Oct 2010, tommythetank wrote:
What would happen if the national FAs just ignored FIFA? Over technology, for instance. If the Premier introduced technology in its games what could FIFA do about it? Could they seriously boycott a national FA? Could they stop the clubs from competing in the CL or the national team from competing in the WC without a serious crisis?
Time for national FAs to stand up and be counted and rid the sport of corruption and sloth at the highest levels.
It's also time for the ultimate customer, the fans, to be not only taken into consideration or consulted, but actually coopted onto these "august" bodies to bring a bit of common sense and reality in to the decisions.
=========================================
Trouble is Tommy that our FA would have to grow a spine first.
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I would be surprised if England gets the nod for 2018. Russia has a lot of money to throw at it, even though England has the infrastructure in place already. They also have never hosted a WC. Whether they win it by hook or by crook, we will never know. FIFA is as transparent as a house brick.
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... and I'm sure FIFA and UEFA are very closely tied. We all know how Michele Platini feels about England!
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33. At 09:42am on 27 Oct 2010, Take the power back wrote:
"...However all that is irrelevant to my point to you which is - why wouldnt we have Welsh, Scottish, English and NI footballing team each. We have different FAs. We have different leagues (Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and County obviously stayed with the FA), and we are from different countries. If you consider yourself British then fair play, but most people I know are English/Welsh/etc first and foremost...."
We may have different FAs but to say we are different countries in the true sense is pushing it. We are separate regions but one Nation governed from Westminster. Step back and think if Catalonia or Lower Saxony entered separate teams in the World Cup and how ludicrous that would seem; but frankly there is little difference. We are just able to keep the foursome separately in the World Cup through FIFA voter manipulation and bargaining, something the S-T, etc are complaining about others doing.
By the way can anybody point out to me ANY major organisation that doesn't have it's candidates doing backroom deals, making promises of payment/funds, colluding with groups to get their votes? I can't think of any - be they sporting, commercial or political organisations - so frankly don't see FIFA as the great source of evil that many on this blog appear to see it as.
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It's high time that information on FIFA and the way it runs the game was made available to the fans who put their money into the game, or anyone who wishes to scrutinize the way they run the game for that matter. For instance, how much money was made before, during and after the world cup, and where has this money now gone to?
FIFA's dealings make the former eastern bloc communist lead countries look positively open for business! As for Blatter, the man is a joke who I seriously doubt could gain a similar level of employment in the 'real world'. Would any other organisation have stood for his, "Women should wear tighter short's when they play football" comment.
The organisation is run on the 'old boys' way of doing things and, it seems, has no interest in any way of moving football forward with the times, as nearly every other major sport has, but would rather keep the status quo as it is so they can keep their vice like hold over the game.
I would like to see a complete investigation of all FIFA records by an independent organisation that has nothing to gain either way from its findings. The recent vote rigging scandal is to be investigated by FIFA itself!! How can this be right in any way whatsoever.
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FIFA - Corrupt. UEFA - Corrupt. The Premier League - Corrupt. The Football League - corrupt. Serie A - Corrupt. La Liga - Corrupt.
I could go on to name every govering body in football.
The truth is, the game it self is corrupt and heading for financial disaster.
I love the game, but I would love the bottom to fall out from the top.
Football itself would still exist, yet the massively corrupt governing bodies?
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The World Cup has to go to Russia. Fifas main role is to promote the game and allow it to expand all over the World. Why give the World Cup to England? Give it to Russia and let them invest in stadiums etc it will be far better for the development of the game as a whole.
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@#20 "England's stadia is there to see..."
Err....
Of the 15 stadia on the list, over half either don't exist (the 'new' Ashton Vale, Anfield, WHL and City Grounds) or are currently too decrepid/small to host a major event (Hillsborough, Elland Road, Home Park and stadium:mk).
Admittedly the current Anfield could do a job, and I don't think Elland Road needs too much cleaning up, but that still leaves 40% of our bid stadia entirely unsuitable right now.
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So James, what's going to be the effect of the proposed BBC Panorama program to be aired pre the vote?
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At least with David Beckham opening a Football School in Jack Warner's home country England have to good grace to be up front about trying to sway the powers that be!
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'FIFA Credibility' in the same sentance, what a joke!
The worst world Cup in living memory.
Dreadful pitches (which if not for a massive injection of money at the last minute would have been worse)
An unplayable ball.
Some of the worse referreeing performances seen in the pro game.
Complete refusal to adopt technology which EVERY other major sport in the world has embraced
And we trust this lot with the world game?
Blatter uses it as his own fifedom, tempting the Africans and smaller world footballing nations with WC's to strengthen his support & keep the fear of god into the 'bigger' european South american footballing areas, so we all have to chase the WC like the holy grail, falling over each other in the rush to stage the tournement.
The whole thing is so open to abuse it is scary.
Any chance of the FA standing up to be counted and applying technology or any kind of independant thought???? NAH :-(
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We can spout on all we like about this but it boils down to 2 things - power and greed. It is what runs the world - not just FIFA.
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We get the FIFA we deserve. Prior to the 1970s international football was administered by some "old school" Brits who wanted to keep big business and politics completely out of football. Since then the sport has completely changed and it's now all about money and politics.
There's no point complaining only when we don't like the decisions, we should have been complaining years' ago. FIFA has admitted that officials have taken huge cash sums and the whole voting system (to elect the top posts) hands the power to people who can deliver the blocks of votes from regions like Africa or the Carribbean. That many of these associations will vote on the basis of receiving cash or favours in return has been an open secret for a very long time (Panoramam did a whole programme on it) but this is exactly how Blatter got voted in and if Blatter hadn't used this method then somebody else would have.
Take away the voting system for the top FIFA jobs and you solve a lot of the corrution problems.
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"That means that Fifa is going to have to do something which in the past has not come naturally. It's going to have to tell everybody what's going on." It's in the nature of bodies with limited or no accountability to hide behind secrecy and obfuscation. It helps them to maintain power and reap benefits in a way that would be much more difficult with openness and scrutiny - which is why such scrutiny is so important.
However, the people who play these games will not be much swayed by public opinion in the absence of democratic processes to dislodge them. You say that "If not, then the members of the Fifa executive committee will be well aware that it's their positions of power, which some of them cherish so much, that will be questioned by football lovers all over the globe." Questioned, yes. Threatened, no, they'll carry on as before. and the media will move on to the next story.
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• 20. At 08:27am on 27 Oct 2010, SteveTreacle wrote:
The Spain/Portugal and Benelux bids should be instantly discounted as countries such as Spain and Holland really should be able to host a World Cup alone - the fact that they can't is pathetic.
What’s wrong with the Spain/Portugal bid; just because they not a country?
Or is really because both countries have the potential to pull it off, leaving England out of contention?
Euro 2004 in Portugal was well organised.
Spain 82 was a success.
The largest stadiums of both countries can seat in excess of 50000 people.
Good infrastructure links...
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We might want the vote to be 'squeaky' clean, but I don't see anything in place to plug all the holes, and much as I share your dream of a transparent FIFA James, I think you're deluding yourself if you think the crooks that have infiltrated the system are under any more pressure to abide by the rules than before. And why is that? The usual reasons, money, and the power that controls their grip on the money. Just like Dr. Faustus, the temptations far outweigh the alternatives, especially with Sepp not looking like calling in his favours anytime soon. "Treason doth never prosper, what is the reason? For if it doth prosper, none dare call it treason."
From a personal point of view, I think the WORLD Cup should be shared around if countries that have never staged it before are capable of staging it. This would fit in with FIFA's image of FAIR PLAY and the World's game. But as we have seen, they've been pretty conservative with their selections of World Cup hosts. Yes, South Africa had 2010, but Germany had it again in 2006 after only staging it in 1974. Spain (with Portugal) want it again after staging it in 1982. England want it again after only staging it in 1966.
And why do I believe we have an outstanding chance? It comes back to the money, but while we might fill the FIFA organisation's coffers, it looks like the ultimate decision to choose the host for 2018 might be determined by coffers being filled further down the line, which begs the question "Who's pulling whose string?" From a selfish perspective, I would love to see England get it, and if I were a betting man, which I am, I think we will.
Regarding the UK having 4 football teams, of course, I'm sure a lot of it comes down to the individual UK FA's not wanting to lose power and jobs, but should we ignore the roots of international football just to mirror a political system? Aren't sport and politics aupposed to be separate?
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to didr09:
"With Paul from Germany predicting England will win" ....errrr....not from beyond the grave mate!
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I'd re-vamp the bidding process.....
FIFA documents and publishes the various factors that are to be applied in assessing those bids, their relative weightings and any minimum requirements.
They appoint an independent professional organisation to assess each of the bids and report back to FIFA on how 'score' against the criteria.
That organisation produce a report for FIFA which is published and identifies any bids that fail to meet the minimum standards and ranks the successful bids.
FIFA votes to rubber stamp the preferred bid. If they choose one of the other bids they must publish their reasons for having done so.
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This is an organisation that for the last 30 years has made the worst excesses of our politicians seem like a walk in the park... Deep down do you really believe that overnight all will be completely open and fair?
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Paul the Octopus predicted an England win. And then look what happened to him. Coincidence? I think not....
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Problems with Russia:
1) Their roads are diabolical, almost everyone travels by train
2) Their trains are sold out in advance on normal days, so will be sold out months in advance if a WC is held
3) Travel distances are VAST.
so how will people get around?
3) Russia is full of racists. Skin heads KILL people very often, especially in Moscow and St Petersburg. Zenit cannot buy black players, their fans wont accept it! The banana banner was what we think it means, dont let them fool you saying its an old saying. Utter garbage. My g/f and a lot of friends are Russian, they think its funny that people are stupid enough to buy this lie
4) Almost every game will be played in Moscow. Only a handful of games will be held outside of the capital. This is grossly unfair on the rest of the nation, who will be expected to contribute towards the funding
Here are some reasons, there are plenty more.
Hopefully FIFA will realise people will now scrutinise their decision, and its just unjustifiable to give the tournament to Russia.
When Triesman made his comments, he stood down and retracted them.
Sorokin makes his decisions and sticks by them and nothing will happen.
Its a sham.
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The vast majority of comments on this blog would be modded on 606 because, although truthful, they are blatant defamation.
We all know that FIFA, UEFA, the FA, the Premier League etc. are just a bunch of self-serving, money-grabbing, lying, two-faced hypocrits, but we also know that they wield all the power in football and do it outside of all national and international laws, so why bother criticising them, it does no good.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I'm still not holding my breath in regards to FIFA cleaning up their processes, but there is no doubt that England should get the WC in 2018.
Why? They need someone safe, and with a number of stadia already there, we're still ahead of Brazil. In fact, with doubts about stadia and infrastructue being ready in time, FIFA might need to switch World Cups at short notice. How many times over the last 6 months has Blatter been quoted that England can 'hold the World Cup, tomorrow'?
Personally I would ban joint bids, with only one country being the official host, but I would let other countries be able to host WC games if the country/ies are neighbouring, meaning England could let Scotland and Wales host some WC games if England was awarded the WC. I cannot see the point in building new stadia, when you've got a 70,000 capacity stadium in Cardiff not being used, and it would reduce the costs in building new stadia.
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Quite frankly if England don't win the 2018 bid then it will be a disgrace and leave FIFA open to accusations of corruption again.
You could hold it tomorrow.
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Ask yourself the question...what has Fifa and done well?
-successfully introduced technology like most other professional sports...NO
-combated violence and racism...NO
-controlled player behaviour towards other players and officials...NO
-implemented rules to help football govern their financial problems...NO
-run a transparent open organisation...NO
-stopped corruption...NO
-stopped a few big clubs dictating the rules..NO
-made a lot of money...YES
Fifa has consistently buried its fat head in the sand whenever any problem has arrived, those inside of football are pretty quick to create new ways of bending the rules, Fifa are very very slow in response. The fact it’s took this long for somebody to question the bidding process is the biggest surprise to me, I was just hoping we were paying more people off than the Russians (Handbags anybody) so we could have the World Cup. Remember the old Olympic bidding process, pretty similar eh!
Eh moderator, if you block a post it helps to tell people why, did you not get a handbag from the English bid?
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"29. At 09:29am on 27 Oct 2010, qualityreading wrote:
I never said that either the Russian or Benelux bid were without their problems. Every tournement has its problems.
However, a lot of people are willing to look at 'solutions' for the South Africa bid, yet nitpick over fine details and find 'problems' when it comes to Russia or Belgium.
I definatly dont want the world cup here - after the scandal over the Olympic Village for London 2010 it proves we pay through the nose yet derive no benefit from it."
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Errrr - Benelux aren't reading - Beligum & Holland are?!?
Nice use of 'Benelux' but only serves to highlight how uninformed you are.
That is all.
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Sorry should've said...
Errrr - Benelux aren't BIDDING - Beligum & Holland are?!?
But I'm sure you catch my drift...
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'The vote on December 2nd must be seen to be squeaky clean' - James Pearce / This is hardly possible!
And to make matters untenable for Blatter and his twenty one; if the vote is a close run race at any stage - and Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii have failed to blackmail Blatter into submission - Adamu and Temarii are going to claim they would have voted for the losing Nation! If you think Football is in a mess now worse is to come!
I HAVE NEVER BEEN WRONG!
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"Nothing like damaging your own countrys World Cup bid when you're a football journalist eh?"
__________________________________
Nothing like slating someone for having integrity you numpty.
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I find all these comments by the Russians laughable! Ive lived in Russia for the past 4 years and I just can't see a WC in Russia being successful.
As many posters have indicated there is the racism factor which will almost certainly be an issue!
The 'Russian' bid is actually just a Moscow bid as it is highly doubtful any of the games will be played outside of the Moscow region.
The stadiums are shoddy at best and lack facilities capable of holding an international event such as the world cup.
I can't understand how, with all the nationalities that would be in Russia (in the event of them winning the bid) how people would survive on the basis that people here really don't speak English too well, aswell as being very inhospitable people!
As for the alcoholism, well yes England does have its fair share of Alcoholics but nothing on the scale of the problem here in Russia.
If Russia do win, I think it will have been due to some kind of curruption rather than Russia being a more suitable place to host the WC over England!
I'm off my soapbox now! :-)
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@ #1 "Nothing like damaging your own countrys World Cup bid when you're a football journalist eh?"
I'd prefer talking to a person with integrity over someone that takes the win in any shape or form.
The integrity of the FA's of the different bids, or that of FIFA, for that matter, is not the only thing at stake here..
Consider for a few moments the demands FIFA has when it comes to commcercial interests, some of this already showed at the World Cup in South Africa.
People got arrested, yes arrested, for wearing kit that was made by a different beer brand than the official sponsor.
For me, this is just scary, it means that countries are willing to turn over their judicial system over to commercial interests. (I could go on a rant about how that has already happened, but this is about football, not central banks and such.).
Aspiring World Cup hosts should think long and hard about wether or not they want to make the sacrifices that the FIFA wants them to bring.
Obviously, it's a great event, and it "brings nations together", but does it really? the World Cup, to me, has degenerated into a money making machine for FIFA and their cronies, and whilst a host nation COULD make a generous amount of money, this is by no means guaranteed.
I for one, if I were in the position to do so, would most likely refuse FIFA from having any sort of influence in my country, I'd prefer people to remain unarrested for wearing the wrong brands.
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Sorokin was quoted as criticising high crime rates and the drinking habits of young people in England's capital
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To be fair, if anyone other than a Russian had made that statement, it would be ok.
England does have some terrible problems; crime, drunkenness, violence, not to mention traffic and mess.
BUT Russia is WORSE!!!!
I was over there only a few months ago and it makes London look like the Seychelles!
I've NEVER seen such levels of filth and drunkenness. Exposure to crime was practically issued out to you upon arrival as if it had been the local currency!
Truly, truly shocking.
Like I said, ironic that a Russian should level such accusations....
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This whole bidding process is a farce and full of greed, corruption and money.
Solution would be to have a strict rota basis for selection. Europe, Asia (incl Australasia), Americas, Africa.
Each “continent” must have a strict rota basis of the countries that are capable and want to hold the event.
Alternative solution the runners up of the previous tournament get it, or all 4-semi finalists go into a hat – no bids allowed, draw made once the semis have been played and before the 3rd place play off and final are played.
Controversial alternatives –
The country, which hosts the world cup, is not allowed to compete removing ALL home advantage. Bids would be interesting football or cash????
Permanent home for the finals
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Hmmm....so FIFA aren't happy about England complaining about blatant rule breaking. Maybe this is just the excuse they need to dismiss our bid. From a tecnical standpoint the England 2018 bid is definately the best, but I can't help thinking that Sepp and co. are just looking for an excuse to exclude us...
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Russia will win for one reason and that's money!
If you are looking for a longer and more detailed reply then you need to ask the moderators why they removed it.
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We Portuguese don't want to host a World Cup with Spain. If we are to host a World Cup we want to do it on our own. In addition this "joint-bid" is extremely unequal and can be more accurately as a Spanish bid with very little Portuguese input. This is because Spain will have the opening and final match and Portugal would only have one semi-final and the 3rd and 4th place match and a handful of group stage and other knock-out matches. The bid in its current form is an insult to Portugal as an independent country which has survived multiple Spanish attempts of conquest and subjugation and will imply Portugal is a province of Spain, as plenty of foreigners with a very questionable Geography knowledge seem to think. And many foreigners usually refer to this supposedly "joint-bid" as Spain....
And more importantly we are facing a very serious economic crisis and most countries are rearming their military, which means my hard-earned tax money should be spent sorting out the economy and rearming our military, NOT entertaining the world.
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Some facts for Mr. Sorokin:
Murder rate in England and Wales: 1.28/100,000
Murder rate in Russia: 14.9/100,000
Male Life Expectancy in England and Wales: 77.2 years
Male Life Expectancy in Russia: 61.8 years - 500,000 alcohol-related deaths per year
Amazing how the Russians picked these two issues in particular to illustrate the superiority of their bid...
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R.I.P free speech. I'm falling foul to the moderators with alarming frequency now, this time simply for pointing out that FIFA has its problems (somewhat euphemistic, but given I was censored abruptly last time I have to be excessively careful now).
On that note, watch out no.83. Although you have listed a series of figures which I imagine can be corroborated as fact, this might in some way offend the sensitivities of the powers that be at the BBC.
P.S. If a moderator happens to read this, please take the time to research the law of defamation, specifically the defences of justification and fair comment. An overly cautious approach stifles debate.
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#82 - Look out people, Portugal is re-arming!
Seriously though - I was 6 years old the last time the World Cup was held here, and cannot remember a thing about it. All I and I suspect many others of my age group want, is to see it held here again before I get too old and decrepit.
Since '66 Germany and Mexico(!) have hosted it twice, and it's been to every other major European football nation.
Simply put, it's time it was held here again, of that there can be little doubt, but the reality is Russia, or rather Moscow, despite its far worse crime and alcohol problems will probably get it, and we all know why.
Oh, and the banana on that banner meant exactly what we thought it meant - Sorokin was applying a bit of old school cold war spin - don't be fooled.
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I find sad the utter comments that mainly the English place on this blog difamating other countries mainly Russia.
I do not agree with Sorokin's comments either to be honest but there's so many people not informed with the actual situation of the countries commented that is blatant.
And they still say that they travelled there! Are they the same people that place a bad review on a foreign hotel because there was no English Food?
I usually travel on business and tourism to Spain, Belgium, Portugal and, yes... mainly Russia. I have been to Moscow, Kursk, Saint Petersburg, Vladimir, Kromstadt, etc.
Not on the back of touring coach or in group of tourists but on my own. I learnt Russian basically on the streets.
I mention this because I can say that I never been assaulted, insulted, racially abused (as a Brazilian, my skin is slightly brown) or anything like it. In fairness, they were very welcoming and I made loads of friends there even before they asked me from where I was from.
Same of course in Belgium. Spain, Holland, Portugal (of course) and ENGLAND.
What I am trying to say is that we should stop "considering" if this or that nation is better or worse. As South Africa proved, WCs independ of those circumstances since security, logistics and all are completed treated and dealt on a different level whatever country the WC are in. Special Trains, Buses and arrangements are laid.
On other hand, in U.S., we had some mishaps mainly because of lack of local awareness of the event but in no circumstances this blighted the game.
Stadium preparation is another issue that does not come into place. The Commonwealth this year being an exception.
England is not better placed than anyone and the others are also on the same boat.
The technicalities of each bid are the ones that are valid and should be used to judge if the right one has won.
If FIFA were transparent, they would come back to the Rotation system (which people complained a lot but was more fair - it is not because Europe has more countries that they should be allowed to host more WC's) and allow for all affiliate federations to vote reducing henceforth the risk of corruption.
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The problem with buying votes is probably just a side issue anyway. We all know how FIFA is organised and how the resulting power filters to the top because of past favours having been done, including getting certain people elected, and future favours needed to get elected when certain people move on.
Yes, Blatter was seen as instimatic in getting the WC to South Africa. It was usggested he saw it as one of his legacies.
Does nobody else suspect that the all powerful Mr Blatter will, as always, have his own agenda and, as always, will use his position to ensure that the voting delivers?
The only thing uncertain is just what is Mr Blatter's agenda this time round and who will it favour!
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Although FIFA is a closed shop I still do not understand how 2 out of 24 votes could influence the choice of venues for the 2018 and 2022 World cup matches. Or perhaps this is just the 2 who got unlucky and were 'caught'. In Africa whenever a Sports minister tries to get rid of 'Non-performing' Soccer administrators, 'elect' along the 'opaque' lines of FIFA's 24 delegate system, FIFA invokes the so called 'interference' rule that may lead to a FIFA ban. In a recent local derby 8 fan lost their lives, needlessly. I say needlessly because the 'opaque' Soccer administrators presided over the removal of turnstiles installed when the Stadium was built. It is therefore no longer possible to establish how many fans actually attend matches. The UP-side of this scenario for the FIFA sanctioned Soccer administrators is that they can print as many tickets as possible so that they pocket unknown sums of money. It is from the pool of such Soccer administrators that FIFA recruits the membership of it Executive committee. How anybody expects these Soccer administrators to metamorphose into credible executive committee members with integrity is beyond me.
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Some facts for Mr. Sorokin:
Murder rate in England and Wales: 1.28/100,000
Murder rate in Russia: 14.9/100,000
Male Life Expectancy in England and Wales: 77.2 years
Male Life Expectancy in Russia: 61.8 years - 500,000 alcohol-related deaths per year
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For everything else there is the FIFA Mastercard ........... PRICELESS
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I personally think we should not bid for the World Cup. If we really want to take the moral high ground that is the only sensible path. We have all known for decades that the Olympics and the World Cup bidding processe are questionable to say the least. The sight of our bid team sucking up to Sepp Blatter, Warner, Platini etc makes me sick and ashamed. Trust me, the World Cup may not need England but it certainly needs the oxygen of publicity that it gets from the bidding nations trying to upstage each other. Do we as a nation want to kiss the feet of nobodies in order to spend a chunk of money we do not have on a competition our national team don't even set their alarms for?
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Question is...Is England a country where binge drinking,crime rate and may I add, promiscuity is on the up? answer is a BIG YES and thats certainly not something to be proud about and may I add, it is certainly a factor when considering hosting the World Cup
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93 - Whereas Russia is a crime-free moral Utopia.....not.
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fredoski...and while we're at it, why should a perceived decline in moral standards (your assumption not mine) in England have anything to do with a World Cup bid? S Africa has one of the highest Aids infection rates in the world, and, rightly, it had no bearing on their bid.
I assume from your name you are not English, so you might not get the point that it is time the country where it all kicked off (sic) hosted the World Cup again. Please!
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With December 2nd 2010 fast looming (the date for the successful bid for the 2018 World Cup to be announced) the dirty under hand tactics are now in full flow. Trying to undermine each bid put forward like an American Presidential Campaign.
The Russians have now started to bang their drum on how London is full of crime and drunk chav kids! Whilst they are not wrong in their assessment they have far bigger problems themselves with crime and racism than England/London has.
Russia’s World Cup bid has been dented by recent incidents including the unveiling of a banner featuring a banana with the words “Thanks West Brom” aimed at West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie by fans of his former club Lokomotiv Moscow.
Russia 2018 chief executive Alexei Sorokin initially denied that the incident was racist, claiming that the phrase “to get a banana” meant to fail a test in Russian slang. “There was nothing racial in it,” Sorokin said. Sorokin’s view has been challenged however by the FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) Network, a coalition of football anti-racism campaigners that has run campaigns with Fifa and Uefa. Piara Powar, executive director of FARE, said the banner was clearly racist in intention, and indicated that the Russian game faced wider problems.
“The context in which the banner was used was clearly racist in context, and to suggest otherwise is a nonsense,” he told journalists recently.
“Russian domestic football has a problem with racism that is quite systematic and insidious, it is linked to the activities of far-right groups that emerged after the collapse of the eastern bloc and have used football as a vehicle. Compared to the work that has been done in England, Russian football is on a different planet, and if it were to stage the World Cup in four years there is no chance racism would have been dealt with.”
West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie says racism remains a Huge problem inside Russian football. When his move to West Bromwich from Lokomotiv Moscow was confirmed, a disgusting, racist banner was produced at Lokomotiv’s stadium.
“I didn’t expect it to get to this,” Odemwingie said recently. “I knew there were some racist groups there. They are against anything not Russian, not just black people.Inside the old Russian federation, it is so big. You have several different countries. There are many different people. They are also white. But they are not Moscow Russian. They will be from different parts of Russia. But Moscow people still don’t like them. But racism against black players is still there in the stadiums. Every time they receive the ball you can hear it. The noises. You feel it. It was more painful for me than, say, Brazilian players who are black, because I’m Russian. And I don’t want to criticise Russia. It is still my country. But they are not ready, for me, to host the World Cup. Not because of the racism issue. Because I just don’t think the country is ready yet. Like with respect to transportation.
On a positive side, if they do get it they will build the stadiums. They will embrace it.
Personally, I think that if there is still racism, they could use this to change Russia. To show them it’s not acceptable and bring about change. Make friends with people. Show them that people around the world are the same.”
It’s not just racism that Russia has a huge question mark over it for hosting a World Cup but also crime. Take for instance the Russian football trainer Vladivostok’s FC Luch Energiya Yuri Shishlov, who was gunned down in downtown Moscow on Wednesday 4th August 2010 and died in hospital the next day!
Police sources said the attack was an apparent contract killing attempt. Shishlov, also former deputy boss of Yaroslavl’s FC Shinnik, was a key prosecution witness in the recent case against his ex-chief.
On July 20 2010, FC Shinnik ex-director Vladimir Shepel was found guilty of embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
If the Russians are going to sling mud, then surely we have much more to throw back at them. Russian football is corrupt to the very foundation and referees, officials and even players have been bribed, beaten and even murdered!
Maybe the Russian bid and FIFA are a marriage, because they go very well hand in hand! we’ll soon know?
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In about 2002 a player for Russia tested positive for drugs in a UEFA cup qualifier. The fact that Russian football has been guilty of this offence should throw definite doubt on Russia's fitness to host an international football event.
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I find the comments made by the Russian official about England hypocritical.
The World Cup is not only about football, but also about the coming together of people from different countries and races. What a backwards step would it be to give the World Cup to Russia, probably the least ethnically diverse and one of the most racist places in the developed world. Are people forgetting the wide spread beatings and murder of people living in Moscow because of the colour of their skin or the killing of judges and journalists for standing up to a large group of racist thugs.
Russia may be technologically advanced but it's people in the main are socially backwards and not open to people of colour. They are a closed country. Russia is not a place to hold the World Cup.
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We should not be hosting anything. We can't provide transport efficiently in London and if the Olympics don't highlight that fact and kill of tourism in London for the next decade this certainly would. Private rail and tube companies in this country see no link to public service and public investment and may as well be selling double glazing to make a profit.
Neither should Russia - in the event we send gay athletes to a violent death and in the event somebody - like half their dead journalists for example, speak out about the link between Russian wealth and gangsterism passing for government.
File that and put my name on it - cheers
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Personally I can't believe Russia can get away with what they are saying and just basically saying 'sorry if upsets anyone'.
How can you say you were misinterpreted but then say... but it's true? What a joke.
All i'd say to FIFA is go and ask various international supporters groups about their experiences of away games in England and Russia and then you'll get a proper reflection.
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90. At 12:15pm on 28 Oct 2010, I was George Bests Left Foot wrote:
Some facts for Mr. Sorokin:
Murder rate in England and Wales: 1.28/100,000
Murder rate in Russia: 14.9/100,000
Male Life Expectancy in England and Wales: 77.2 years
Male Life Expectancy in Russia: 61.8 years - 500,000 alcohol-related deaths per year
______________________________________________
For everything else there is the FIFA Mastercard ........... PRICELESS
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Hahaha good one that xDDDD
Russia may be a big problem in terms of hosting- we know about Zenit's fans not accepting black players for their team and, of course, Peter Odemwingie getting racial abuse after he left (Russians on here may correct me or not)- interesting considering he is half Russian.
Anyway, England almost seem to be as bad in other areas.
Let the lesser evil win :P
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Frankly, even I weren't British I would be against the Russian bid. One, to properly host the cup without crossing multiple time zones would require hosting all of it in and around Moscow, going against Fifa's wish to show the WC to all parts of the host nation. Two, They have a prevalent rascist footballing sub culture, witness the Odemwingie banner.
And finally, the magic octopus (RIP Paul) said we would win, and so far all his predictions have been correct.
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Also, corruption, throughout the entire damn system.
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How much would I give for the World Cup to be hosted here? Ooh, about six quid............I'll get me coat..............
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For all the criticism of Russia,the plain facts must point to 2018 being hosted by them.FIFA need new hosts to grow the sports appeal and Russia will not produce an austery competition unlike England where everything will be embarrassingly cut price (one firework and Sting with his lute as the opening show i ask?).Add to that sworms of drunken teenagers in England shirts will be the reality shouting dumb vulgarities at whoever they come across.Russia has the wealth, the panorama, the self belief and the organisational know it all and will prove far more financially wortwhile to FIFA and both its profit line and mission.Well done Russia!
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Euro '96 - the last time we hosted a football tournament, and I can't recall "swarms of drunken teenagers...shouting dumb vulgarities at whoever they come across", in fact a good time was had by all, ask any foreign supporter who was there. I've no doubt there were individual unpleasant incidents, but they were few and far between.
As for promoting the game, it may have escaped your notice, but football is already a major established sport in Russia.
England for 2018!!
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Funny to see Australia and Outar are bidding for 2022 W.Cup they should hold Camel world cup race first togather because they have them plenty....
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"It's a comical situation. The English are afraid of how badly their bid is going. Instead of talking about their own advantages and merits, they try to disorient their rivals."
Is that not what Alexey Sorokin has done? Is there not a Russian word for hypocrisy?
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I can't see how Russia are even in the running, they're a third world country who were receiving aid from us until very recently.
Their football racism is completely out of hand and I’m sure people will die out there if they host the tournament.
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We've got the better infrastructure, facilities, transport and media by far. But then again this is Sepp Blatter and FIFA were talking about so it'll probably go to Russia instead...
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FIFA is stunningly, stunningly corrupt and the way their wield their power without any semblance of transparency is a joke. When will this change?
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England is probably beeter equiped to host the WC2018; however, can't see them getting it whilst Blatter is running the show....
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English football is so bad I'd rather Russia get it and us not qualify. It's become too depressing watching England. Not had a good tournament since 96.
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lol paul that tourny was in england- so your point is????
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Well, let's see. FIFA has to work on better trained officials, more officials, introducing technology to assist those officials, allocating tournaments where there may be fans, rather than politics or money and of course, getting some management that has professional qualifications rather than cronyism and having polished soccer's doorhandles for 40 years. Now one has FIFA investigating its own cronies. Please!! Get an independent body in there that understands corruption, and in the meantime hold independent and transparent elections. This is hilarious. This is worthy of a Monty Pythom skit. Where is Cleese when we need him?
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It would be a crime for England not to get the world cup.
It has possibly the best footballing infrastructure in the world and there are many countries not as capable that have held the world cup twice.
And Russia? Who on earth would want to go see the World Cup in Russia? Massive expenses, visas and the DISTANCES.
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The one thing FIFA know is that corruption in their ranks will be ruthlessly scrutinised and exposed by the English press.
Which will be very worrying for them.
If they give the WC to England will the press leave them alone ?
That is the question they will be asking.
And if they don't - what then - will Putin protect them.
The rest is about irrelevent football related stuff
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Mr-Cammy:
"It would be a crime for England not to get the world cup."
No, it would be, at most, a disappointment.
"Who on earth would want to go see the World Cup in Russia?"
Russians?
"Massive expenses, visas and the DISTANCES...."
But less expensive to get there for those people living closer to Russia than they do to England, surely - never mind the Russians themselves? Are visas really such a deal-breaker? (Relatively) cheap internal flights?
I'd like to see England awarded the thing, obviously, it's just that I'm not so sure your particular arguments against Russia hosting the World Cup are entirely fair. I could be wrong.
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Very typical British behaviour today.
"Your country smells and is populated by weasels. Sorry."
"Oh that's alright then."
I'd much rather see
"We don't accept your obviously transparent apology."
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Sorokin mentioned levels of drunkeness and crime. These ARE bad in England but they are far, far, far worse in Russia.
(To be fair though, as an aside, England does NOT have the best transport infrastructure: as far as I know it is the only country in Europe - if not the world - where you find traffic jams even on country lanes! Levels of traffic congestion, across the nation as a whole, are the worst in the world.)
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What a big prize hosting such a World Cup would be.....WE PORTUGUESE DON'T WANT a world cup, especially one with spain where we only get a handful of matches and neither of these include the final or first match. Additionally, this is an extremely UNEQUAL bid that will bring no financial benefits for the country and will be used by some to show Portugal is a province of spain/Castille. In fact it will only bring more financial pain and even more tax increases. We cannot afford to entertain the world. Instead we have to take care of ourselves.
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So Sorokin has apologised. Must have sobered up, you know how it is.
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Sadow, we are different countries. I am English but live in Scotland. Only England is governed by Wales and Scotland.
Scotland and wales have there own parliaments. I am ENGLISH, I never ever want to see a British team I am not British I am English, the sooner we have independance the better
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