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FA: England Will Not Host Next Two World Cups
06-06-2015 18:03
The Football Association is "not interested" in hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cups if either is removed from Russia or Qatar, its chief executive Martin Glenn has told Sky News.
The FA chief dismisses suggestions England might step in to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups amid the FIFA corruption scandal.
The Football Association is "not interested" in hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cups if either is removed from Russia or Qatar, its chief executive Martin Glenn has told Sky News.
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said this week England was ready to step in if Qatar lost the 2022 event.
But, in his first comments since an FBI investigation rocked FIFA and prompted the resignation of president Sepp Blatter, Mr Glenn said that was not the case.
"We are really not interested," he said.
"It has gone to Russia in good faith, they have not had a World Cup, why shouldn't they play there, and 2022 was never going to be in Europe so it should be outside of Europe.
"So we support the World Cup being dispersed around the world, as the name suggests."
Mr Glenn welcomed the fact FIFA will be under new leadership, but would not be drawn on who that would be.
"We are very pleased that there is going to be change at FIFA, and we will work with UEFA and FIFA to make sure there is progress.
"We need someone who is strong and will professionalised the set-up."
UEFA President Michel Platini is the leading contender but is yet to declare whether he will run.
In Berlin ahead of the Champions League final, he has held a series of meetings with potential allies, including the president of the Olympic Council of Asia, Sheikh Ahmed of Kuwait.
A hugely influential but relatively unknown figure, he could decide to run himself or put his weight behind Mr Platini.
The Frenchman knows he cannot win without significant support from Asia, which voted for Mr Blatter last week.
Sheikh Ahmed was a key figure in the election of International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who said the IOC's recovery from the Salt Lake City scandal could provide a model for FIFA.
Speaking exclusively to Sky News, Mr Bach said: "It's absolutely important for FIFA to regain credibility for FIFA so I can only advise that they work hard at reforms and work hard on addressing these grave allegations.
"We had our difficulties 15 years ago and we did two things.
"We took swift action with regard to members, 10 members expelled or retired, and we undertook reforms.
"I am very proud that we elected athletes to the IOC, we have a system of accountability, strict rules on the election of host countries and we have even more reforms for transparency coming."
https://news.sky.com