England 2018 World Cup bid bosses write to FIFA
Leaders of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup have written to FIFA distancing themselves from allegations of corruption.
England officials are fearing a backlash from world football’s leading body after the Sunday Times newspaper claimed two members for the voting committee were willing to sell their votes for money to fund football projects in their respective countries.
Nigeria’s Amos Adamu and Tahiti’s Reynald Temarri have both denied any wrongdoing and will face a FIFA ethics committee hearing this week.
And now England’s bid group are concerned that a BBC Panorama investigation, set to be broadcast three days before the bid to determine the hosts, could now hinder their chances.
In a letter to FIFA, chairman Geoff Thompson and international president David Dein wrote: “In recent weeks, the role of the British media and its relationship with both FIFA as an organisation and the individual members of the FIFA executive committee has come under the spotlight and there has been significant speculation as to the effect that this might have on our bid.
“It has been a difficult time for FIFA and as a member of the football family we naturally feel solidarity with you and your colleagues.
“It is now public knowledge that we have made representations to the BBC regarding a forthcoming documentary they are planning. We are alerting you to the fact that the programme appears in part to be raking over allegations some of which are up to 10-years-old and have already been formally dealt with by FIFA and the Swiss courts.
“We hope England’s bid will not be judged negatively due to the activities of individual media organisations, regardless of one’s view of their conduct. We hope you appreciate that we have no control over the British media.”