World Cup bids ‘like The Archers’

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has questioned whether any World Cup has been won without “a pile of bungs”.

Wolfgang Niersbach quit as president of the German football federation (DFB) amid claims payments were made to officials at world football’s governing body Fifa during the bidding process for the 2006 World Cup.

Germany beat England, South Africa and Morocco to host the 2006 event.

“It is like The Archers. Every week something is happening,” said Dyke.

“You begin to be convinced almost no World Cups have been allocated without a pile of bungs,” Dyke added.

The Germans beat South Africa by one vote after New Zealand delegate Charles Dempsey abstained.

Niersbach denies any wrongdoing but said he had taken the decision to quit in order to “protect the DFB”. He remains a member of Uefa and Fifa executive committees.

Dyke also questioned whether Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko should stay on Fifa’s executive committee.

It comes after a World Anti-Doping Agency commission report recommended Russia should be banned from athletics competition.

Wada’s independent commission examined allegations of doping, cover-ups, and extortion in Russian athletics.

Dick Pound, author of the damning report, said Mutko must have been aware of the level of cheating.

“I don’t know where it ends,” said Dyke.

“You need a completely reformed organisation because you can’t carry on like this.

“Having seen the events of yesterday, whether someone who is involved in all that can stay on the board of Fifa is something Fifa needs to address very quickly. There has to be a question mark.”

Nations seek compensation over World Cup 2018

Two weeks ago, suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter suggested there was an agreement in place for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup – before the vote took place.

And now England, the Netherlands and Belgium are seeking legal advice over whether to claim compensation for the cost of their respective failed bids.

The Dutch and Belgian joint bid, which cost 10 million euros (£7m), went up against another joint venture from Portugal and Spain, as well as individual entries from England and Russia.

England were eliminated after the first round of voting, while the the Dutch-Belgian bid finished third in the second round, and Russia went on to be declared winners.

Belgian FA president Francois de Keersmaecker said: “In agreement with our Dutch colleagues we have asked a legal firm to see if we can claim for compensation.

“It was unethical to allow us to incur unnecessary costs while the outcome of the bidding process had already been determined.

“On the basis of the advice we get, we’ll decide what steps to take next.”

BBC Sport