UK MPs blames Prime Minister for WC bid loss
MEDDLING Gordon Brown seriously damaged England's 2018 World Cup bid by rushing to reveal it, a report will claim today.
A committee of senior MPs will slam the former PM for "bouncing" the FA into a three-year campaign in 2007 before it was ready. That meant the bid lost steam, they believe.
The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee say: "The timing appeared to reflect the Government's priorities and the FA got a little bit bounced.
"The announcement of the bid was made considerably earlier than that by Qatar. The ensuing, drawn-out campaign of over two years may have contributed to the lack of success.
"The PM announced the bid before the FA Board had an opportunity to consider the timing of the announcement.
"One consequence was that the England bid appeared to struggle to maintain momentum."
The FA's failed bid, which cost £17.1million, was also said to have failed to learn lessons from the previous 2006 World Cup proposal.
The report was scathing about endemic levels of corruption at FIFA and called on president Sepp Blatter for action.
