Was Auntie to Blame

[Felixx62]

A sad day for all us footy fans losing out to Russia to host the 2018 WC. Perhaps we will have more luck in 2026. I just wonder if the Beeb hadnt screened that Panorama prog last week,perhaps we would be celebrating hosting the 2018 WC tonight instead of drowning our sorrows for not. Corruption in footy surely not.....

[DaveG]

Funny, I'm of the completely opposite opinion

[Garry Russell]

I can't see that the opinions of a TV program would influenece the result
If the points brought up are false thenit would be ignore

If they are true then it is not the TV programs doing

But FIFA is surely bigger than that.


At least the UK won'thave to waste vast sums on hosting another pointless sporting event

Good news I say

[DarrenL]

We wouldn't be wasting money on it, the stadiums are already there and any being rebuilt will be done by the clubs anyway. It was due to bring in £3billion pounds to the economy instead from all the visitors staying in hotels, buying tat and profits on sold tickets.

Still at least we don't have to go through yet another incarnation of Skinner & Baddeils "Footballs coming home" song played endlessly.

[DaveB]

There was a newspaper involved too wasn't there Whatever.. no one likes being accused of fraud whether they've acted fraudulently or not. I'm someone who holds a grudge so it would've influenced my decision

Ah well.. as Boris pointed out, let's not forget we're hosting the Olympic Games and the Rugby World Cup



ATB

DaveB

[Tomliner]

Personally I couldn't give a sh*t.I also wish that we hadn't been awarded the Olympics( as I also suspect had many of the politicians,especially given the current fiscal climate).Precisely who is going to benefit from these events?.Perhaps more importantly,who is going to pay for them? Of course we already know the answer to that don't we? EricT

[Jon.M]

The decision made me smile, and I suspect that it did the same for the majority of Brits despite the newspaper hype.

Especially after the undignified sight of the prime minister and second in line for the throne going to beg FIFA and Blatter to hold the tournament. Then this morning seeing someone on Sky news suggesting that the Russian media should be questioning why Putin wasn't there doing the same.

I'm NOT a fan of Putin but at least he realised that touting for football games is not part of his job.

Jon

[SkippyBing]

To be honest I thought the BBC were giving a massive hint to the FA Team. If you want to host the World Cup, bribe FIFA. I mean what do you think the Russians did?

[emfrat]

Well that excruciating effort from down here thoroughly deserved its fate - just one vote
Oz has produced a many excellent soccer players of international standard -it's a black disgrace that so many high officials in the managing body of the sport fall so far short of the mark
(Have to call it 'soccer' - 'football' can mean any one of three ball games here')
MikeW

[speedbird591]

At least the fans will have some fun in Russia. It's a football crazy country and they'll be welcome. But wtf are they going to do in Qatar in 2022? Unwind in the nearest bar by chatting up the local crumpet?

I don't think so

Ian