Russia knew World Cup bid results 24 hours earlier: British media
December 3rd, 2010 - 6:14 pm ICT by IANS
London, Dec 3 (IANS) The World Cup bidding process in Zurich, the headquarters of FIFA, Thursday night is now branded as a fix as it emerged that Russia knew the result 24 hours before it was announced.
Russia won the rights for the 2018 World Cup while Qatar was chosen for 2022, becoming the third Asian country to host the tournament.
British tabloid The Sun reported that Russia bid chief executive Alexey Sorokin was so confident he boldly told the England team in Zurich Wednesday his country had enough votes in the bag.
“Sorokin clearly knew Russia had enough votes and he told the English that,” the daily quoted a source close to bidding process as saying.
For the 2018 bidding process, England went out in round one with two votes while Russia eased home in round two with 13 votes.
The daily reported that Sorokin’s boast came on the back of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proclaiming he would not attend the event because of ‘unscrupulous competition’.
England 2018 chief executive, Andy Anson, was also angry.
“We thought we had at least six votes, maybe seven or eight. David Dein, myself, David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William were looking people in the eye and were asking for their vote and being told ‘Yeah’. I don’t think people like us,” he said.
- Russians knew 24 hours in advance about World Cup bid results - Dec 04, 2010
- 'British press, complaint against Russia may nix England's WC 2018 bid chances' - Oct 30, 2010
- 'Miffed' England accuses Fifa members of 'reneging on commitments' in failed WC bid - Dec 03, 2010
- Cameron to visit Zurich for last-ditch 2018 football WC bid lobbying - Nov 12, 2010
- FIFA provisionally suspends members over 2018, 2022 World Cup 'vote-selling scam' - Oct 21, 2010
- Fuming Putin accuses England of 'dirty tricks' before 2018 World Cup bid - Dec 02, 2010
- England footie officials appeal to FIFA to judge 2018 Cup bid vote fairly - Nov 15, 2010
- FIFA's voting panel should have been given bid money directly: Blackpool boss Holloway - Dec 06, 2010
- 2018, 2022 World Cup bidding process in turmoil over FIFA officials' vote-selling scam - Oct 17, 2010
- England reacted like "bad losers" after failing to win WC bid: Blatter - Dec 09, 2010
- Brad Pitt to compete with Beckham for World Cup bid - Jun 04, 2010
- World Cup 2022 Bid Won By Qatar, USA Fumes - Dec 03, 2010
- FIFA official banned for three years over 2018, 2022 World Cup 'vote-selling' scam - Nov 18, 2010
- England 2018 World Cup bid team to withdraw FIFA complaint against Russia - Oct 29, 2010
- BBC FIFA bribe investigation would not affect 2018 World Cup voting process: Platini - Nov 30, 2010
Tags: anson, asian country, boast, british tabloid the sun, chief executive, david beckham, david cameron, david dein, england 2018, england team, london, prince william, russia, russian prime minister, tabloid the sun, thursday night, vladimir putin, vote, world cup, zurich