How Many Back-Handers For FIFA This Time?

Last updated : 03 December 2010 By Footy Mad - Editor

Defeated England bid chief Andy Anson has admitted there is no point in the country bidding again for the World Cup until FIFA change.

Sepp Blatter had spoken to members about the "evils of the English media" just before they voted ... and guess what ... we got ONE vote!

Some FIFA members are blaming BBC Panorama and Sunday Times investigations for a backlash against England - and Anson says that was referred to by Blatter in his final speech to the 22-man executive committee just before the vote.

But all it did was show how they were telling the truth!

Asked if he would advise England to bid again Anson told a news conference in Zurich: "I would say right now don't bother until you know that the process is going to change to allow bids like ours [a chance] to win.

"When you have the best technical bid, fantastic inspection visits, the best economic report, and, from what people told us, the best presentation, it's quite hard to stomach that all that seemed to count for absolutely nothing.

"Having only 22 guys only voting gives them too much influence. Running two bids together was clearly a huge mistake. Everyone who had a vote and a bid clearly wanted to trade that vote for something that helped them get over the line in that campaign.

"Australia had a very good bid and they got one vote, we had a very good bid and we got two, the USA had an unbelievably strong technical bid and got three. Six votes in the first round between those three, there's something not quite right.

"You have to open it up to all member associations and have transparency and open voting so everyone knows who voted for whom.

"With 22 guys having so much power it becomes very, very difficult."

Anson said he had been told that FIFA president Blatter had spoken to members of the "evil of the media" just before the vote.

He added: "I think that was unhelpful - the last thing those guys hear before they go and tick the box is the evil of the media. That is not helpful and actually inaccurate.

"I was told by someone who was in the room that that's the last thing they were told by Sepp Blatter. There was a final sum-up before they voted and I think it was at the beginning of that. That's not helpful to our cause."