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Press Releases
World Service: FIFA chief says England will not host 2018 World Cup
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FIFA Vice-President and CONCACAF President, Jack Warner, has told 91Èȱ¬
World Service that he will "fight to the very end" to stop England
hosting the World Cup in 2018.
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England has been backed by many leading figures in football to host the
World Cup for the first time since 1966.
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But in an exclusive interview in
Port of Spain, Trinidad with 91Èȱ¬ reporter Chris Mitchell, Mr Warner said: "If
by chance, in 2018, the World Cup were to go to Europe, I'm quite sure,
with the English luck as it is, they won't get it.
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"It'll be Italy, Spain, or it might even be France. Nobody in Europe
likes England. England – who invented the sport – has never had any
impact on world football. England at no time has had the love and support
of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant."
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Mr Warner, who is also President of CONCACAF (Confederation of North,
Central American and Caribbean Association Football), sees any England
bid as being in direct contest with a bid by a CONCACAF country.
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"There
are moves to give it to England. I must fight that. I really don't
believe that we should just lay down and play dead to anyone who wants to
take the World Cup from CONCACAF.
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"I know in FIFA there are those persons who believe the rules should be
changed to satisfy Europe but I tell you this today we shall fight it to
the very end."
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World Cup host countries are chosen by a vote from the representatives of
FIFA's executive committee. FIFA is currently reviewing its decision to
rotate the World Cup through different continents past 2014.
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Jack Warner's son Daryan was linked to scandals involving tickets issued to
FIFA officials for World Cup games being sold for profit.
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But Jack
Warner denies any wrong-doing: "'I have never sold a World Cup ticket in
my life. I sleep very soundly at nights. My heart is clear. My conscience
is clear."
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Jack Warner controls 35 votes within FIFA, and has been credited with
keeping FIFA President Sepp Blatter in power, but doubts he could have
the top job,
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He said: "You have black footballers on the field of play. In
administration you have whites. I have seen this for 25 years.
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"But I haven't given up. I haven't thrown my hands up in the air. I am
there to fight it and to show that we as black people are equally as
competent as the white guys.
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"It's all good to have a banner to say: 'Say No To Racism'. Once a year a
banner on a field of play can't prevent racism. It has to be an on-going
process. I don't think FIFA is ready for a black president yet."
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91Èȱ¬ World Service will air the full interview with Jack Warner on World
Football With Alan Green on Saturday (11 August 2007) and next Saturday (18
August).
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91Èȱ¬ World Service Press Office
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