Post-mortems begin as Russians rule it

THE recriminations over England’s humiliating defeat in their attempt to win the 2018 World Cup began last night after the bid was eliminated in the first round with just two votes.

Russia won the vote by FIFA’s 22-man executive committee in Zurich — leaving England battered, baffled, and complaining of broken promises.

FIFA released the voting figures which showed England won just a single vote apart from Britain’s FIFA vice-president, Geoff Thompson.

In the first round even expected whipping boys Holland/Belgium secured four, Spain/Portugal seven and Russia nine.

Russia, who now have huge stadium building project on their hands, then won an outright majority in the second round of voting.

In the 2022 contest, Qatar beat the USA in the final round of voting — another controversial decision for a desert country half the size of Wales, with no stadia and where June temperatures can top 50C.

Thompson said: “I never imagined we would go out in the first round.”

FIFA’s decision stunned the England bid team who had hoped the quality of the bid and the lobbying by Prince William, British Prime Minister David Cameron and David Beckham had put themselves in a promising position.

Asked if members had “looked him in the eye and lied”, bid chief executive Andy Anson admitted: “I am not going to name names because that is not fair on individuals but clearly some people did — we thought we had seven or eight votes.”

England 2018 leaders last month said that the bid had been damaged by a backlash against corruption investigations into FIFA members by BBC Panorama and the Sunday Times.

Beckham however said he hoped the suggestions about the anti-England backlash over the media were wrong: “I’ve heard the rumours that we lost due to the British press. I hope that isn’t the reason. I believe in a free press and they are incredibly supportive of the game I love.”

Questions are sure to be asked how England 2018 performed so badly — even in the failed 2006 bid they managed five first-round votes.

Brian Mawhinney, the former Football League chairman and bid vice-chairman, hinted that the FIFA process needs looking at. “Questions do emerge,” said Mawhinney. “It seems to be a legitimate question if the process should be different next time.”

Graham Taylor believes a perception of England as “arrogant” and “know-alls” ended their hopes.

Taylor said: “I ask the question ‘what were we expecting?’ FIFA, for me, is full of people who say ‘yes’ to your face and ‘no’ behind your back.

“We (England) have little or no influence; we are considered to be arrogant and know-alls and FIFA don’t have to answer to anyone.

“I’m surprised that we’re surprised. This has been going on for years and we’ve been aware of a lot of things going on around the back.”

Guus Hiddink, meanwhile, believes the decision to hand the 2018 World Cup to Russia will be hugely beneficial for the country.

“I was in Zurich to promote the Holland/Belgium bid so I am disappointed that Russia has won,” the Dutchman said. “But if anyone other than us had to win it, I would have chosen Russia. This is a huge boost for football there. For all those beautiful stadiums and for the Russian economy. It could very well be that many international companies will invest there.”