By AAP
November 30th 2009 @ 6:42am
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FIFA vice-president now backs England bid
If Football Federation Australia hoped it had FIFA vice president Jack Warner on side for its World Cup bid, it may need to think again.
Warner has performed an about turn about England’s 2018 bid, having previously dismissed it as lightweight, and now says “this is England’s time”.
The CONCACAF president is also reportedly supporting the United States’ bid for 2022.
Warner, a powerful member of the 24-man FIFA executive committee which will decide the 2018 and 2022 hosts in December 2010, raised spirits earlier this month with his positive comments when declaring Australia an “excellent chance”.
“If there is a country that truly deserves to host the FIFA World Cup, then it is the island continent of Australia,” Warner said in Nigeria two weeks ago.
Warner then met with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Port of Spain, Trinidad at the end of last week.
They discussed Australia’s World Cup bid for 2018 and 2022 and the government’s support for it.
But it seems British Prime Minister Gordon Brown really caught Warner’s ear in a similar meeting about England’s bid.
“It was an exceptionally good meeting – it was the best case I have heard for a long time about the World Cup being in England,” Warner said on Saturday.
“I was very impressed by his humility, his sincerity, his knowledge of the game and most importantly he didn’t feel England had any divine right. He felt that England’s time had come – a point to which I subscribed.
“He said, and I agreed with him, that England has the best infrastructure to stage the tournament and that, after a 52-year gap, this is England’s time.”
Warner’s comments are in stark contrast to what he said during a speech at the Leaders in Football conference when England’s bid leaders were panicked by the CONCACAF president’s withering assessment of their hopes.
“I was attempting to be constructive and I am sorry if people thought I was being destructive,” Warner said. “But I was looking at the bigger picture and the bid seems to have new energy and impetus.”
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Pippinu said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:22am | Report comment
Typical Warner!!!
Honestly people – read up on this bloke’s history before you try and assess what he is doing and saying.
The other day when some were waxing lyrical about what Warner was saying about Australia – I desperately wanted to warn people not to pay attention to anything he says – but I resisted because I admit I’m sounding far too negative of late.
But I will say this – when he returned a $400 leather bag/gift (whatever it was) back to the English – he was not acting out of some noble, moralistic sentiment!!
He was sending a clear message – you guys better do better than that – and I’m talking hard, cold cash!!!
If any public accountability is to apply to the Government’s $46 million grant – I wonder what creative accounting Lowy will need to use to record any such payments to lizards such as Warner.
Tom said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:28am | Report comment
Yep.
I say we just give him half a mil now.
albatross said | November 30th 2009 @ 9:38am | Report comment
As Coatesie said in 1999 Well, we didn’t win it (the Games) on the beauty of the city and the sporting facilities we had to offer on their own, and we were never going to.
Perhaps the FFA need to speak to him a bit sharpish and get a few tips on how to fund “consultantcies”.
dasilva said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Doesn’t matter. We are not competing with england for the world cup
Pippinu said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
das
True. I’m not sure if all Australians understand that yet.
But more worringly – let us not forget which confederation Warner comes from.
He is described as influential – well, I guess extreme forms of corruption can often mean influence.
dasilva said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:34am | Report comment
Yeah we will probably at most be a 2nd preference behind USA for the World CUp in 2022 for Jack Warner
I doubt he needs to used the 2nd preference as USA are very unlikely to be eliminated early in the voting process. So what ever Jack Warner’s opinion of Australian bid is kind of irrelevant.
Though it doesn’t hurt having positive reviews from him. It may grab respect from other people who we are trying to buy a vote.
Mr cheese said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
With whom are you competing, then ?
I reckon they’re more likely to send it to the Yanks than to you.
They have better stadiums, no ?
Pippinu said | November 30th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Das is saying in shorthand: Europe (most probably England) has it in 2018, and we are a chance for 2022, but the US will be extremely tough opposition, i.e. 2018, no contest, 2022 a bit of a contest, and therefore we are not competing with England.
Midfielder said | November 30th 2009 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
Its Asia V US … in 2022 the other 2026… Europe 2030….. Asia 2034…..IMO if 2022 then Australia if 2026 then China
Don-star said | December 5th 2009 @ 7:02pm | Report comment
Looking at the bigger picture, one should also look beyond 2018 and 2022. With China waiting in the wings for 2026, it maybe difficult for FIFA to justify any Asian bid in 2022. With Europe earmarked for 2018, USA may win 2022 by default.
Pippinu said | December 5th 2009 @ 7:43pm | Report comment
The question has to be asked, having just hosted the Olympics, and knowing that China (and India), making up more than half the world’s population, have their admirers on the FIFA executive – why did they not bid for either year?
It’s highly improbable that they pulled out for no reason.
Were they privy to some insider knowledge on how the bid was likely to go?
Were they quitely told to go for 2026?
AndyRoo said | December 5th 2009 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
China has some real problems when it comes to football. Maybe not enough for Fifa to care though.