England 2018 Calls Meeting Over Rift Rumours

According to media reports, an emergency board meeting for England’s 2018 World Cup bid has been called following a raft of criticism over the campaign’s progress thus far and speculation regarding a widening rift between the bid chairman Lord Triesman and the government over funding.

The board meeting is believed to have been called following government unrest regarding Lord Triesman’s supposed accusations of a lack of financial support from Westminister.

It has been reported that the meeting will see Triesman and chief executive Andy Anson implement major changes to the way the bid is structured.

The main board is speculated to be reduced from 12 to around five members, with three advisory committees formed to deal with technical, campaigning and host city issues.

The changes are intended to head off unease within government and football about progress.

The bid has endured a difficult few weeks sparked by heavy criticism from FIFA vice-president Jack Warner over England 2018’s progress thus far.

This has since been followed by the government’s angry response to suggestions from the bid that it has reneged on a commitment to provide £5m in direct funds for the campaign.

The government has offered a £2.5m loan, but that has been met with dismay by Lord Triesman, who has suggested that a shortage of funds is hampering the campaign.

Interviewed in The Daily Telegraph, Richard Caborn, the Prime Minister’s 2018 ambassador, stated that the government remained fully committed to the bid and was providing a total of almost £500 million in financial guarantees.

He added that the government had demanded changes to the bid structure and hinted that he and Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe may withdraw from the main board if their concerns are met.

Said Caborn: ‘The Prime Minister and the Government remain fully committed to this bid and believe that this campaign can be won.

‘We have also delivered on every single promise that we have made. We never promised to deliver £5m, but we have delivered a £2.5m loan and more than £350m in financial guarantees to underwrite the bid and meet FIFA’s requirements.

‘In addition, local authorities supporting host cities will provide £250,000 up front to fund the bid, and around £10m each to underwrite the tournament.

‘That amounts to £500m in support from the public purse, a huge commitment, and nobody can claim that it demonstrates anything other than wholehearted government support.

‘We do believe that the bid requires some reorganisation and a new direction to allow he team to focus on winning the votes we need rather than domestic squabbling.

‘If that means that there is a need to scale down political involvement and withdraw then we will do that. If they argue that we are an impediment to the campaign we will listen.’