Blair promises to back World Cup bid despite scandal
Posted: Wednesday December 16, 1998 05:18 PM
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Blair: "If there is to be a bid from this part of the world, we should carry on fighting for it." Allsport |
LONDON, England (AP) -- Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed continued full
support Wednesday for England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup
despite a bribery scandal sweeping through the Football
Association.
Speaking in Parliament and without referring directly to the
scandal, Blair said the bid still had the government's complete
backing.
"If there is to be a bid from this part of the world, we should
carry on fighting for it," he said.
The biggest scandal to hit the FA in its 135-year history led to
the resignation of its leading official on Tuesday as well as a
unanimous vote for the chairman to quit.
Chief executive Graham Kelly and chairman Keith Wiseman
unilaterally agreed a 3.2 million pound (US$5 million) loan to
the Welsh FA without consulting the rest of the executive
committee.
The papers interpreted it as a move to gain a vote for Wiseman
in an election for FIFA and UEFA executive committees and charged
that the two men had dragged English soccer into an unprecedented
and damaging scandal.
While clubs and fans digested Tuesday's stunning events, several
newspapers said that the crisis had virtually killed off England's
bid to stage the 2006 World Cup. Other candidates include Germany,
Brazil, Morocco, Ghana and Egypt with South Africa also expected to
enter a bid.
The Times of London said that the England bid had now "lost its
Credibility" and stood no chance at all if Wiseman stayed as
chairman. Although he has refused to resign, he may be forced out
by a meeting of the 91-member FA Council January 4.
The tabloid Daily Mirror said the scandal had put the future of
England coach Glenn Hoddle in doubt and "could shatter" hopes of
staging the 2006 World Cup.
"Kelly has cost us the World Cup" headlined the paper Sunday. "Now
there are fears that the 9 million pound (US$15 million)campaign
to stage the 2006 finals will prove a disastrous waste of money,"
the paper said.
Alec McGivan, one of the officials leading the English bid, said
he couldn't understand the media's reaction.
"Everyone in English soccer wants us to stage the World Cup in
2006 and we are determined to prove to the world that England will
provide the best venue for the tournament," he said from Bangkok,
where he is promoting the bid while attending the Asian Games.
"We have a very strong case and we have no intention of being
deflected from it. This bid is bigger than any individuals."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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