Faltering England slim down 2018 bid team

November 13, 2009

England have responded to criticism of their bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals by announcing a reduced management team.

Bid chiefs held a crisis meeting Thursday and announced a new executive board which included Geoff Thompson, a vice-president of world football governing body FIFA, who was omitted from the original line-up.

After starting the bidding process as favourites ahead of Russia, Australia and the joint-venture by Spain and Portugal, England’s 2018 campaign has come under fire in recent weeks.

The bid has been severely criticised by Jack Warner, one of FIFA’s executive committee members, and Football Association chairman Lord David Triesman, also England’s 2018 chairman, has come under pressure over his inability to devote more than two days a week to his role.

Triesman will now head up a streamlined board featuring Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards, Football League chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney, Lord Sebastian Coe, the London 2012 Olympic Games chief, former player Paul Elliott and chief executive Andy Anson.

Original board members such as Britain’s sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe will join an advisory group headed by Karren Brady, the former Birmingham City chief executive.

Triesman said: “We’ve got to a point where the England 2018 campaign requires focus, determination and where everybody involved has a specific purpose to help us win the bid.

“In our view, these changes reflect a positive development and send a loud message of an absolute determination to bring the World Cup tournament to England.”

According to a report in Wednesday’s edition of The Times newspaper, Warner’s influence is likely to result in “at least another two votes and probably more like another three or four votes” being lost.

England’s bid is also said to be suffering from a lack of financial investment, with the Government’s pledge of five million pounds (5.5 million euros) in direct funding having been cut to a conditional loan of 2.5 million pounds (2.7 million euros).

FIFA are expected to announce their decision on the 2018 hosts in December next year.

England have hosted the World Cup just once, in 1966, when they won the tournament for the only time in their history with a team captained by the late Bobby Moore defeating the then West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in a final at London’s Wembley Stadium.

LONDON (AFP)

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Benitez to undergo third operation

January 14, 2009

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) – Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was on Wednesday due to undergo a third operation for a kidney stone complaint.

However, the 48-year-old Spaniard hopes to be back in full charge in time for next week’s league and FA Cup derby double against Everton.

Benitez last underwent surgery in December and he has since watched the Premier League leaders’ matches from the directors’ box.

Assistant manager Sammy Lee, who will oversee the team’s preparations in Benitez’s absence, told Liverpool’s official website: "It’s a difficult time for him because, you know Rafa Benitez – all he wants to do is be out there on the training pitch with his players. That’s his forte. But he’s still buoyant. "He’s going for the third operation but we’re hoping it won’t keep him out for too long – hopefully just a couple of days."

Benitez has recently been involved in a series of verbal spats with title rivals Manchester United.

Before the latest round of league matches, he accused Old Trafford counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson of hypocrisy and of bullying officials.

"He is obviously disturbed about something," Ferguson said after watching his English, European and world champions thump title rivals Chelsea 3-0 — a day after Liverpool could manage only a goalless draw with Stoke.

"When he reflects on it he must realise what a ridiculous thing he is saying," added the Scot, whose team are now just five points behind Liverpool with two games in hand.

But Benitez, far from being cowed into silence by those results, broadened his attack on Monday to criticise United chief executive David Gill for a perceived conflict of interest because of the role has also has within the Football Association, the English game’s governing body.

However Gill, who was in Macau on Wednesday to launch United’s 2009 tour of Asia, which will take them to China, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia, said Benitez "has missed the boat completely".

Gill dismissed the Liverpool manager’s comments as "pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things".

He said he acts on behalf of the 20 Premier League teams, not just United, in his role at the FA.

Phil Gartside, chairman of Bolton Wanderers, and Premier League chairman Dave Richards also sit on the association’s board.

"I was elected over the summer by the Premier League clubs. I’m very clear in my role," Gill told reporters.

"I think it is totally incorrect to assert that," Gill added, referring to the conflict-of-interest accusation.

"It’s not how I work. I do not think I would have been elected for the last two years if that was the case… He (Benitez) missed the boat completely."

Written by: AFP