England’s World Cup bid team has been told that they do not have to work so hard to impress voters.
The Football Association is bidding to host the 2018 World Cup finals, with a final decision being made by Fifa’s executive committee in December.
Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, who has previously been critical of England’s bid, claims do not have to push as much as they have been doing.
“I don’t understand why England have to work so hard to prove their case,” he said.
“Certainly not considering they last staged the World Cup as long as 44 years ago.
“I’ve continually said that England could host the finals tomorrow. I consider the best football is still that in the Premier League.”
England’s bid team’s next port of call is Stamford Bridge, where this week they will attend a ‘Leaders in Football’ seminar, when they – along with rival bidders – will again put the case for England to host the finals in 2018.
“We believe these commitments provide a clear demonstration of why we would be the best possible partner for Fifa and the global football family,” said bid leader Andy Anson.
“We offer passion, diversity, world-class infrastructure, minimal risk, major events experience, commercial leadership and the creation of a significant global impact, leading to the most ambitious, spectacular festival of football imaginable and a lasting legacy of football and social development all around the world.
“Ours is not a World Cup that will benefit one country alone but is truly a Fifa World Cup for the world.”
One of England’s commitments is over profits, but Warner insisted that making money would not be a significant factor.
“It’s not a question of money any more,” said Warner.
“Fortunately Fifa sponsorships have not been damaged by the recession. Legacy is about infrastructure at home and abroad, expansion of the game’s social breadth.”
Russia are widely considered England’s main rivals for 2018 and their bid chief Alexei Sorokin remains confident about his country’s chance of success.
“A vote for Russia is vote for the future of football. We believe that and we will do our best to persuade Fifa of that,” he said.
“If you get things wrong, including the final bid presentations, people who are hesitating will not vote for you.”
