FIFA are still going ahead with their plans to announce the host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which will be held on December 2nd. There has been a lot of scandal surrounding the votes, with allegations leading to two members of the executive FIFA members being suspended. What has this all been about? “Selling votes” to influence the outcome of the electoral process. The executives from Nigeria and Tahiti have been suspended because there is an investigation surrounding them from the ethics panel, to see if there really has been any wrong doing on their parts. They could be back in position by the time the actual voting comes around if they are not found guilty, but if they don’t make it, then the vote will between the remaining 22 members of the committee. This bidding for the 2018 FIFA World Cup really hasn’t seen much plain sailing to be honest. Spain and Portugal (who are submitting a joint bid) were accused of hoping into collusion with Qatar in order to manipulate voting. This all gets a bit complicated, but FIFA are running bidding for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at the same time, and while Spain/Portugal are gunning for 2018, Qatar is in the hat for 2022 (along with the USA, Australia and Japan/South Korea), and there were accusations of the countries scratching the back of the other when it comes to voting.
Then of course came the spat between England and Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosting rights. The Russians were flinging a bit of mud in the direction of the England bid, which prompted England to lodge a complaint, which they then withdrew after an apology from the Russians. Everyone kissed and made and up, and now the countries have to cross the T’s and dot the I’s on their final bid presentations. December 2nd, 2010 is when England will get the last chance, the last 30 minutes of spotlight time to try and win the bidding over Russia, Portugal/Spain and another joint bid from Belgium and Netherlands. England are actually favourites at the bookmakers to win the bid for 2018 and are priced at 8/11 with Ladbrokes to do so. Second favourites in the race to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is Russia who are priced 8/5 at Unibet. There doesn’t look to be too much competition coming from the other two bids, with Portugal/Spain out at 7/1 with Ladbrokes and Belgium/Netherlands way out in the wilderness priced at 25/1 with Ladbrokes.
October 29th, 2010 / Lee A Jackson - Category: Football News
