Fifa Vice President Says England Will Not Stage World Cup

[Rappy Veteran]

Fifa vice-president Jack Warner said he will battle to stop England hosting the 2018 World Cup.

His decision will be a blow to the Football Association, who were likely to plan a bid on the back of any change to the current selection procedures.

"If the World Cup were to go to Europe, I'm quite sure, with the English luck as it is, they won't get it," Warner told BBC World Service.

"There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that."

Warner, a member of the world football body's executive committee since 1983, added: "It will be Italy, Spain, or even France who will get the World Cup if it goes to Europe.

"Nobody in Europe likes England. England invented the sport but has never made any impact on world football."

It is believed Fifa president Sepp Blatter is set to end the World Cup rotation policy when the executive committee meet later in the year.

Instead, the association are likely to approve a format that only precludes the continents that held the previous two World Cups from bidding again, which in 2018 would be Africa and South America.

Warner, president of Concacaf, added that he would battle to bring international football's premier tournament to his region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

"I really don't believe that we should just lay down and play dead to anyone who wants to take the World Cup from Concacaf," he said.

In July another Fifa executive committee member and former World Cup winner, German legend Franz Beckenbauer, offered his support to England hosting the 2018 World Cup.

He told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek: "There is no better country in Europe to host the World Cup in 2018. England is the favourite."

He added: "The most important thing is to end the rotation and bring the tournament back to Europe.

"The Premier League at the moment is the best league in Europe and the stadiums are outstanding.

"In my opinion, there is only one very serious candidate and it is England."

[htwho]

"Nobody in Europe likes England. England invented the sport but has never made any impact on world football."

That is such BS!

The Premier League is the best league in Europe even though I support FC Barcelona.

I mean I would understand England's rejection if it's a concern about hooliganism but it's not!

[Ashl]

I'm surprised this bloke is still in FIFA(involved in some ticket corruption at the last world cup) and amazed if he won't have to back down from those comments, if even Beckenbauer wants us to have the World Cup, we should have a chance.

[Bobster]

"Nobody in Europe likes England. England invented the sport but has never made any impact on world football."

That is such BS!

The Premier League is the best league in Europe even though I support FC Barcelona.

I mean I would understand England's rejection if it's a concern about hooliganism but it's not!

What an ######. The Premiership is the BEST and toughest league in the world with the best clubs. I say drag his arse out of Fifa HQ and shoot him.

[Kushan]

That's the kind of remark that INSIGHTS hooliganism! Saying "nobody likes you" is just going to cause trouble and (hopefully) get him sacked.

I'm not even English OR a football fan and I'm pretty ****ed at his remark.

[sundayx Veteran]

What a England hater.

[htwho]

Definitely an unjust bias against England.

[Brodel]

Sadly not that surprising coming from such a corrupt and dishonest individual. He is probably still bitter about the book 'Foul' and that panorama documentary a year or so back. I'm not surprised he is dieing to bring it to North and Central America and the Caribbean either, he can probably syphon off a nice load of cash again.

[Rob Veteran]

If that's a direct quotation, that's horrifically unfair. May the best country that can prove its preparedness get the World Cup.

[Rappy Veteran]

I agree that his comments are just wrong. He needs to apologise for his comments because in the end as Rob said its the team with the best set up that gets the nod not what this loony says.

[gunnerhkjp]

Maybe I don't know the history, but I don't understand.

Does he have some personal hated towards England?

Why would such a prominent person say something that could only be construed as "flaim bait" or "trolling"?

[Shibby]

He hates the english because our media can say what they want and do what they want.

As Brodel says, the bloke is corrupt. FIFA have to work as a business when it comes to tournaments. They want nothing but the best, that will allow money and high attendance's. England can offer this.

[OPaul]

"Nobody in Europe likes England. England invented the sport but has never made any impact on world football.

What the **** is he smoking.....

[Rappy Veteran]

What the **** is he smoking.....

My thoughts exactly!!!