David Cameron: England's 2018 bid should not be harmed by press conduct
British prime minister David Cameron has supported England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup, adding that
BBC Panorama's investigation into FIFA will not damage the credibility of the bid.
Cameron is set to make a three-day appearance in Zurich next week as lobbying intensifies ahead of the executive committee's vote on Thursday 2 December.
Speaking to BBC Football Focus, the prime minister said that while the airing of
BBC Panorama's documentary on Monday 29 November is untimely, it should not taint the executive committee's appraisal of the bid.
"Is it frustrating that Panorama's doing this programme a few days before? Of course it is. But it's a free country. I think FIFA will understand. In terms of audience, in terms of the press coverage around the world, actually the media
will give it a fantastic boost here in this country."
The Conservative party leader also said his country has the perfect conditions to host the tournament.
"I think it's a very easy sell because if you think about it we've got the stadia, the fans, a country that's mad about football. It would be such a great World Cup if we had it here. One of the ways to sell it to the world is that the world
watches English football, the world comes and plays its football in England and so bringing the World Cup to England is such a natural step."
On the day of the vote, Cameron will form part of the English bid team's 30-minute presentation to FIFA alongside former England captain David Beckham and Prince William.
FIFA's executive committee will then vote for the 2018 and 2022 host countries.
The English bid team will be rivaled by bids from Russia, the Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal, while Australia, Japan, Qatar, South Korea and the United States are in the running to host the 2022 tournament.
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