Warner Warns Of England ‘arrogance’
Despite a charm offensive during England’s trip to Trinidad & Tobago, FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has stated that England’s ‘arrogance’ could cost them success in their bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Warner has given his backing to England’s bid but believes the way the country is perceived by other European nations could be a problem.
He stated: ‘England has never been viewed as part of Europe. England should reintegrate back into UEFA and then that bond, fellowship and togetherness will be there.’
Warner is viewed as one of the most powerful men in world football and his importance can be traced back to England’s failed 2006 World Cup bid when three of England’s five votes came from him.
The 65-year-old president of Concacaf, which covers North and Central America, and the Caribbean, has again given his support to England but said that alone may not be enough.
‘The catalyst of my support for England for the bid for 2018 is because I don’t believe any country of England’s football pedigree should not have a World Cup for almost 50 years.
‘England, a country that invented the sport and with all the facilities England has, has not hosted a World Cup and I think it is wrong. It is against this background that I supported England for 2006. In 2006, when England only had five votes, I gave them three.
‘I said to Tony Banks (leader of England’s bid) then that they will not win the bid because they didn’t have European support. Even now, if England gets support from outside, she still needs at least two or three people in Europe to give support.’
He added: ‘I also think there have been too many changes of the leadership of the FA over the years. People don’t really know its leaders – as soon as you get to know somebody then that person goes for whatever reason. There has to be some kind of longevity in terms of the leadership.
‘Finally, England has to try to remove or reduce what people perceive to be arrogance – rightly or wrongly. What England needs is to have somebody like a David Beckham to be its ambassador out there to sell the idea. Beckham is loved by all. Beckham is like Pele and therefore use him to sell the idea. If these things are done and done quickly, I don’t see a problem.’
