World Football News: Spain/Portugal bid chairman accuses England of cutting out a deal with U.S.A. - Part 1
The Iberian bid chief executive has provided yet another twist to the whole corruption saga going on in the FIFA headquarters as he has blamed England for coercing U.S.A into submission and withdrawal from the 2018 bid. It has been
a strange week for FIFA during which it was revealed that two of their executive committee members were allegedly involved in taking money in exchange for their votes. Both the members have now been submitted. However, the tale doesn’t end there as the Spain
and Portugal bid is also facing investigation over the reports that they colluded with Qatar 2022 to exchange votes for one another’s bidding project for football’s most awaiting and celebrated competition, the FIFA World Cup.
Miguel Angel Lopez became the latest man to voice his concerns as he has implied through his comments that England have already cut a deal with U.S.A, which is in breach of FIFA regulations. Not only that, the Iberian chief executive
accused England of having below par hotels which will not be suitable for travelers who might come to England to attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup, in case England do become the host nation for the tournament. Spain/Portugal are also in running for the right
to host the 2018 World Cup as well, whereas Qatar and U.S.A are both hopefuls for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Mr. Lopez told the media that “This is all very strange. On 28 September [David Dein] held a press conference in which he said they were sure it would not be long before the United States withdrew from the fight for 2018. This gentleman
must be telepathic or a prophet, because the United States did not pull out until 15 October. That isn’t an agreement? When I see this I have to have suspicions. Lopez also questioned the standards of hotels in England as he said that, “Fifa told them they
had to improve in terms of their hotels”.
Talking about the Iberian bid, Lopez told the media that “We don’t have to invest in hotels. We haven’t put forward guest houses. We have hotels of five, six and seven stars.” These comments have surely added fuel to the fire already
as they have signaled aggressive tactics on part of the Spain/Portugal bid, a bid that has been a subject of a low key marketing campaign thus far. Such remarks have also indicated the rising tensions that are coming into place as the voting day, December
2nd draws nearer.
David Dein has not responded to these comments thus far but it looks like the English bid will not take them up with FIFA. FIFA’s president Sepp Blatter has already stated that football’s governing body are regretting their decision
to allow the bidding process for 2018 and the 2022 World Cup simultaneously. Sepp Blatter spoke on FIFA’s behalf as he said that “I have expressed my concerns whether the decision to put two World Cups together was a good decision or not. I think it was not
the right thing to do but now we have started we have to go on.” Sepp also went onto raise ethical and moral concerns regarding the British media.
The Sunday Times conducted a secret investigative operation to reveal what both Adamu and Temarii, two members of the FIFA executive committee took bribes in return for their votes. In a week that has been covered up by corruption
concerns and allegations, such an activity has brought negativity to the front of the English bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. FIFA’s ethics committee is set to give their verdict on Adamu and Temarii on November the 17th as both the members are
currently suspended.
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