Sii 2007: Blatter Does U-turn On England 2018 Bid

FIFA president Sepp Blatter performed a staggering u-turn at the Sport
Industry Interview 2007 when he told the watching hierarchy of the UK sport industry
that the chances for England’s 2018 World Cup bid were very much alive despite
seeming to play down the issue earlier in the day.

Having stated in a press conference earlier in the day that he supported
FIFA’s current rotation policy for the World Cup, which would see either North
America or Asia as the next continent in line for the 2018 tournament, Blatter
explained to the invitees at the Sport Industry Interview that no decision had
yet been taken on the matter.

‘We will have to wait and see at the FIFA executive committee in December as
to how the rotation system for the World Cup will operate when it comes to the
2018 event. What I can say is that nothing is off the table and that includes
England being the host nation.’

The FIFA president went on to praise the state of football in England
commenting that the nation could easily host the tournament, even at short
notice, given its strong infrastructure.

Blatter even joked with the 250 industry representatives present at the event
that if they voted for him at the FIFA presidential elections later this year
then he would deliver the World Cup to England.

When questioned by interviewer John Inverdale on the chances of South Africa
remaining the host of the 2014 event, with some bookmakers offering even odds
that the nation would not be ready in time, Blatter answered with a resounding
statement that the country would ‘definitely host the 2014 tournament’.

The Sport Industry Interview 2007, in association with Wiggin LLP, took place
at the Bloomberg Studios in Central London.

In front of a select, invite-only audience of 250 leading practitioners from
the UK sport industry including the likes of FA chief executive Brian Barwick
and FA Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards, the FIFA president was
interviewed on a variety of football topics.