World Cup 2018
29.Nov.09
I read that Karen Brady has delivered the latest damning assessment on England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Brady, who was originally part of the bid team before standing down in October as part of a “streamlining process, claims that internal politics were causing disunity that could ultimately unhinge the bid. Her comments come just after the resignation from the board of Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards.
I find it hard to fathom just how Lord Triesman and his crew have managed to make such a mess of what should be a perfectly straightforward bid. Unlike the 2012 Olympic bid where very little of the infrastructure necessary was in place, we already have a number of great stadiums up and running. In fact as far as I can from a technical point of view we could host the tournament tomorrow.
So the problem must lie with the people who claim to run the game, namely the FA, the Premier League and the Football League. All three have different vested interests to protect and all are comprised of a myriad of committee men, representing an array of clubs, committees and councils. In other words the perfect recipe for a disaster.
They should take a look at how London won the 2012 Olympics. It was a team effort from start to finish. While Lord Sebastian Coe was seen as the public face others worked tirelessly behind the scenes with particular attention being paid to wooing the votes of the various Olympic members. There was no public squabbling, no ego motivated outburst, just everyone working towards one goal.
Next week Lord Triesman and the rest of the 2018 bid team fly out to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup draw. There they will have the chance to try and convince the FIFA delegates that the bid has not gone off the rails. David Beckham has been drafted in to help. They might have been better taking the hypnotist Paul McKenna.