Vladimir Putin,Russia’s prime minister arrived after all to thank FIFA from the bottom of his heart. But on the subject to the England’s bids trials, he was rather less effusive.
“Mr Putin, the English bid clearly believes today that it was cheated. Do you believe that the English bid was cheated?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
The predictable response.
But nevertheless despite the Herculean efforts of David Cameron, Prince William and David Beckham over the last couple of days, England suffered humiliation. And they are suspicions about exactly what went on in the FIFA voting room.
England’s bid Chief Andy Anson asked some of FIFA’s poll brokers to look him into the eye and lied, admitted, I am not going to name names because that is not fair on individuals but clearly some people did, we thought we had seven or eight votes. In the event, England polled just two and one of them was from their own FIFA delegate, Geoff Thompson. Sky News understands, England’s other vote came from Japan and its member Junji Ogura.
In the media center, there was consternation among season of press men“I can sort understand whether it came from Russia, but overall just say disappointed thought but there is a lot questions now to be answered at home about how we put this together from the start.”
“Have you ever looked into the eyes of the * members you vote, you know they call me thought we had about six or seven, we got two. I think that sums up everything about concerns that FIFA had about English media we thought earlier in the way. But particular the fact is we don't have many friends in world football and that’s because football association needs to go out there and actually be far more proactive in making friends.”
“Maybe this is a feeling that BBC panorama program did for them as well and it’s one overwhelming disappointment and trying to explain it.”
In club obsessed England a World Cup in 2018 would have been the tonic of a failing national football team required. Instead, it may just have taken a further devastating blow. |