Blatter backs joint bids for 2018 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
June 7 – The race for the 2018 World Cup has intensified after FIFA today re-affirmed the decision to endorse joint bids.
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
June 7 – The race for the 2018 World Cup has intensified after FIFA today re-affirmed the decision to endorse joint bids.
June 7 – SIS LIVE, Europe’s largest outside broadcast and uplink supplier, is to become an official supporter of the England 2018 World Cup bid, they have announced.
June 7 – The scale of debt held by the Glazer family, the owners of Manchester United, is even greater than first imagined after it emerged that their business empire owes £1.1 billion ($1.6 billion), which could threaten their ownership of the three-time European champions.
June 6 – France’s troubled build-up to the World Cup has suffered another blow after the country’s Sports Minister Rama Yade criticised the squad for staying at a luxury hotel.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 6 – England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup has rallied strongly quickly following the controversial resignation of chairman Lord Triesman, Barry Bright, the vice-chairman of the Football Association claimed today.
Which World Cup do England have the better chance of winning – 2010 or 2018?
For the bookies, the answer is clear.
A leading betting website on Saturday rated Fabio Capello’s men 8/1 fourth-favourites to triumph in South Africa, behind Spain (4/1), Brazil (9/2) and Argentina (13/2).
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 5 – Prince William is set to travel to South Africa later this month to help promote England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 5 – The Russian 2018 World Cup bid team are taking Arsenal star Andrei Arshavin to South Africa next week in a bid to woo members of the FIFA Executive Committee.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 4 – Australia hope that a post-World Cup mini-tournament next month featuring Blackburn Rovers, Glasgow Rangers, AEK Athens and Sydney FC will boost the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Write of the Year
June 3 – Ricoh Arena, the home of Coventry City Football Club has been selected as the new Midlands venue to host Olympic football matches in 2012, it was announced today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 2 – A new venue in the Midlands to stage football matches during the London 2012 Olympics is due to be announced tomorrow.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 2 – The United States has added more star power to its bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, putting actor Brad Pitt (pictured) on the Committee trying to bring back football’s top event to the country for the first time since 1994.
Whatever happens to England in South Africa, and whether or not the hurt of 44 years is finally assuaged on July 11, there has been one revolution in England’s national game that is undeniable.
And profound.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 1 – Sunil Gulati (pictured left), the man leading the United States’ bid to host the World Cup, believes that going up against four Asian contenders for 2022 will work in favour of his country – rather than against it.
So Turkey narrowly failed in their efforts to upset France and win the right to host the 2016 European football championship.
Having come so close in Friday’s vote, I’m sure members of the Turkish bid team will need time to get over their disappointment.
But once they do, they can reflect that their efforts have secured an important legacy for Turkey: never again will a Turkish bid for any sports competition be taken lightly.