• World Cup 2018

Anson calls for World Cup bidding reform

ESPN staff
December 5, 2010
England's bid team did not have much to smile about when FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced the result © Getty Images
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England 2018 chief believes the World Cup will not return to England in most fans' lifetime.

Andy Anson wants a radical overhaul of the bidding process after England's £15 million bid amassed just two votes as FIFA voted to hand the hosting honour to Russia.

"It's going to be 50, 60, 70 years before we have the World Cup again," Anson said on BBC Radio 5Live. "That would be sad because it would be an amazing event. No-one cares about football as much as England and it's sad that we're not even getting close to having a World Cup here."

Anson suggested a regular change of personnel in the executive committee and claimed major nations would have to work together to make themselves heard to FIFA. Australia and the USA both missed out on the 2022 World Cup bid to Qatar.

"It might be time for big countries - the US, Australia, Spain, ourselves - who feel this has been handled badly, to make our opinions felt," he said. "If anyone is going to do it now is the time and we should act quickly. We've talked to the Spanish, American and Australian bid teams and there is a lot of anger there.

"There are number of FIFA ExCo reps who have been there for 25 years, that's not healthy. I think we need to look at having term limits or there won't be anyone coming in to change things. These are 22 guys who've been together forever and they're very protective of this very cushy lifestyle."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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