UEFA has defended its decision to snub the trans-Tasman Women’s World Cup bid and block vote for Colombia despite an inferior evaluation report.
Australia and New Zealand scored 4.1 out of five on the report with Colombia totalling 2.9.
The joint bid bettered the South Americans in all criteria – stadiums, team and referee facilities, accommodation, international broadcast centre (IBC) and competition-related event sites and commercial.
Japan’s withdrawal from the bidding process earlier this week saw the Asian Football Confederation unite and back the Australian-New Zealand submission at the FIFA Council meeting along with the Oceania representatives.
(Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
That was expected to secure a comfortable passage for the joint bid but the waters were muddied somewhat after it emerged the Europeans were surprisingly siding with Colombia.
It led to some nervous moments before the decision was announced early on Friday (AEST) when it was reported by the Guardian that English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke had refused to take a phone call from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
However, with FIFA chairman Gianni Infantino and the CAF (Africa) and CONCACAF (North America) delegates voting in favour of Australia and New Zealand, a 22-13 winning margin was secured.
Infantino admitted he was surprised to see a block vote in favour of Colombia from football’s most powerful confederation but refused to criticise the decision, calling it “democracy”.
UEFA said in a statement their vote for Colombia was an attempt to try to increase the growth of the women’s game in South America.
“Even though the Colombian bid was not the one rated highest technically by FIFA, European members of the FIFA Council felt that it represented a strategic opportunity for the development of women’s football in South America thanks to the legacy and increase of attention for the women’s game that the tournament would bring to the continent.
“It was a choice between two countries – Australia and New Zealand – where women’s football is already strongly established, and a continent where it still has to be firmly implanted and has a huge development potential.
“It’s important to add that European members of the FIFA Council agreed to vote together on major issues as a matter of solidarity.”
Davico
Roar Pro
Here is hoping that Oceania and Asia NEVER vote for England to host the Men's WC! Way to look after 2 countries who you have close ties to and are members of the Commonwealth. And for those saying that England needs to have close ties with Europe and needs to vote in a block with the other European countries I have one word, BREXIT! If they thought it was good enough to pull their country out of the EU then surely they can vote their own way when it comes to voting on a host for the WC where a European country is not even bidding for it!!
jamesb
Roar Guru
It's a breath of fresh air coming from a FIFA President.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
exactly, and that's pretty much what Infantino said. He's quoted as saying, what's the point in having bids if we are going to decide on some other criteria. It seems a pleasant change for FIFA.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
read what they said. I think you said that yesterday, about this agreement but don't many have such agreements, like Australia and south Americas, us playing in their cup tournament Copa America? And of course you're right about Asia populations, but look at the strength in football. South Americas are a power house. Brazil women have already shown the potential, but the women's game is ignored in South America. It's strong, very strong already in Asia.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Well if UEFA wants to increase the growth of women’s football in South America, then they should tell FIFA that the 2027 world cup bid should only be exclusive to South American countries.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
No, they voted for Colombia because Europe and Sth America have an agreement to vote for each other - their vote had absolutely nothing to do with "potential". And not sure how Colombia is a vote for potential when three quarters of the world's population lives in Asia.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I agree, but I think you miss their point. They didn't vote for Colombia as the best bid, but rather as the most potential (after the WC, to grow the game). Apparently Infantino spoke to that and said, no, this is the WC, we vote for the best.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
It's irrelevant now what UEFA thinks. In all seriousness, once Brazil and Japan dropped out, Colombia had zero chance of pulling this off (and even with Brazil and Japan there, Australia were still serious contenders). No one in their right mind could possible think that Colombia would have done a better job than Australia.