Sir Alex Ferguson backs England’s 2018 World Cup bid
Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson has voiced his support for England’s 2018 bid to host the FIFA World Cup. Moreover, Ferguson opinion will be instrumental when FIFA’s inspection team visits Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Sir Alex Ferguson is one the most influential people in international football today owing to his achievements with Manchester United since 1986. The Scot took hold of the reins at Manchester and transformed United into the most valuable club on planet Earth. Under Ferguson, United have won 11 domestic titles along with two UEFA Champions leagues. His services to football earned him the Knighthood in 1999, as Ferguson made United the first English club to win the treble of titles.
The manager claims that football facilities in the UK are ideal for the football World Cup and believed that bringing such an event would inspire the local people. The manager would partner Sir Bobby Charlton in accompanying the six man FIFA team around the most prestigious stadium on the planet, when the team visits Manchester today.
The inspection has already started in England, with the team headed by Harold Mayne-Nicholls, was given various presentations and stadia visits in London on Tuesday. The team was also presented with various other facilities linked to the World Cup, which includes hotels, transport and security infrastructure. The team then visited the O2 arena, which is expected to be the venue for the final. The English suggest that the balls should be taken by river to the Tower of London, a night before the event for the final match. A three dimensional holograph of a penalty shootout would be presented with Tower Bridge serving as the goal. On the day of the final, the balls would then be taken by the river to O2 Arena and would then be transformed into a giant football for the final.
The FIFA team travelled to North East London using a Chopper on Tuesday, visiting venues which included the Olympic Stadium, the White Hart Lane, The Emirates, Stadium MK, the City Ground and the Elland Road. The team is expected to tour Sunderland and Newcastle next Wednesday. Sunderland’s Chairman is expected to be present when the team visits the Stadium of Light. Newcastle’s home ground which is known as St. James’ Park, legendary English player Peter Beardsley would be present to guide the inspection team. The inspectors would then move to Manchester, where they would visit the City of Manchester Stadium and Old Trafford on Wednesday afternoon.
The referee in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, Howard Webb, would be present when the team visits Eastlands. Already, some high profile football personalities have been involved, which include Spurs’ Chairman Daniel Levy, Arsenal Chief executive Ivan Gazidis and Liverpool Chief executive Christian Purslow. Even the Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been involved in the issue, which signals towards the seriousness of the bid.
Manchester United manager claimed that facilities for both players and fans are truly remarkable in Britain. The stadia and training grounds are of top notch quality and the passion for the game amongst the Brits would ensure a warm welcome for all football fans. Ferguson added that hosting such an event in England would guarantee a memorable occasion for fans and teams and would be inspiration for people around the world.
The Old Trafford stadium can hold approximately 76,000 spectators overall, second only to the Wembley Stadium in England. The stadium is rated at the 11th spot in Europe in terms of accommodation which has a lot of history. The stadium was present when England last hosted the World Cup back in 1966. Many fixtures of the 1996 Euro were also played at the venue along with the 2003 UEFA Champions league final. The stadium is nicknamed as the “Theatre of Dreams” by Sir Bobby Charlton and has hosted one of the best matches for Manchester United.
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