Prince William to boost England’s ‘troubled’ 2018 World Cup bid
May 23rd, 2010 - 1:09 pm ICT by ANI
London, May 23(ANI): Prince William has offered to stand with brother Harry and David Beckham as the “three lions” to help England become 2018 World Cup hosts.
William, who is president of the Football Association, is said to be worried about the scandal in which former FA chairman Lord Triesman claimed that Russia and Spain would try to bribe their way to success.
“He is now to take a more prominent role in the bid,” The Daily Star quoted a St James’s Palace official, as saying.
“He’s a tremendous football fan and one who is lucky enough to be in a position to help England achieve something,” the official added.
According to reports, William, Harry and Beckham will be at next month’s FA reception in South Africa for FIFA officials, where they will try to salvage England’s case.
Lord Triesman was forced to resign last Sunday after a newspaper published transcripts from a recorded conversation in which he made serious allegations against the Spanish and Russian football associations.
He had suggested that the Spanish federation was willing to support Russia’s bid for the 2018 tournament in exchange for assistance in bribing referees at this year’s World Cup in South Africa to Spain’s advantage.
The revelations are believed to have done immense harm to England’s cause, but officials are confident that they have begun the process of smoothing away the fallout. (ANI)
- England apologises for Lord Triesman's bribing allegations against Spain, Russia - May 22, 2010
- FIFA to probe Triesman's comments - May 18, 2010
- England 2018 bid gets support from Platini and FIFA's vice-president - May 19, 2010
- England 2018 World Cup bid suffers blow over fans visa fee - May 18, 2010
- Beckham integral part of 2018 World Cup bid team: Triesman - Dec 03, 2009
- Russia not involved in 'fake scandals' to nix England's 2018 football WC bid - Oct 07, 2010
- 'England morale high despite Ferdinand's absence,' says Prince William - Jun 07, 2010
- FIFA tells England to be careful if it wants to stay in WC 2018 bid race - May 29, 2010
- Paul the octopus joins England World Cup bid - Aug 21, 2010
- Beckham hopes to make difference to England's 2018 World Cup bid - Nov 30, 2010
- BBC FIFA bribe investigation would not affect 2018 World Cup voting process: Platini - Nov 30, 2010
- England's Football Association Chairman quits over 2018 World Cup bid row - Dec 06, 2010
- Cameron to visit Zurich for last-ditch 2018 football WC bid lobbying - Nov 12, 2010
- FA chief's "entrapment" by attractive former PA could cost England FIFA WC bid - May 17, 2010
- Ferdinand 'gutted' after England's 2018 World Cup bid loss - Dec 03, 2010
Tags: brother harry, chairman lord, daily star, david beckham, fallout, football association, football associations, football fan, harry and david, immense harm, last sunday, prince william, referees, russian football, serious allegations, spanish federation, st james, three lions, triesman, world cup