David Owen: No China Crisis yet for Asian 2022 World Cup bidders

David Owen small(1)

On the face of it, Asian bidders for the 2022 World Cup were hit last week by some very bad news.

This took the form of an announcement by a top official at the Chinese Football Association that his powerhouse of a nation wants to host the 2026 World Cup.

“The CFA,” said Wei Di, its general secretary, “is preparing to ask the General Administration of Sport to bid for the 2026 World Cup”.

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Jordaan absent as FIFA inspectors arrive in Japan

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

July 19 – FIFA’s team of inspectors arrived in Japan today to begin evaluating the candidates for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup but were unexpectedly missing Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of South Africa 2010, who had been expected to be part of the delegation.

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Andrew Warshaw: World Cup was Africa’s last chance for long time

Andrew Warshaw

Now the vuvuzelas have been put away and South Africa is returning to some semblance of normality, attention will inevitably turn to if and when the African continent will stage the World Cup again.

Whilst the event matched or exceeded expectations both in terms of infrastructure and organisation, the reality is that  Africa will almost certainly have to wait at least a generation before it can again embrace the infectious colour and collective enthusiasm that have been hallmarks of the past month.

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Abramovich pays off Hiddink to avoid legal action

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

July 16 – Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich has stepped in to pay the remaining 95 million rubles (£2 million/$3 million) salary of former Russian coach Guus Hiddink to avoid a damaging legal action which could have overshadowed the country’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

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