World Cup qualification - Hoddle: England escaped bomb plot

Eurosport - Thu, 08 Oct 09:59:00 2009

Glenn Hoddle has claimed that England footballers escaped a plot to assassinate them during a match at the 1998 World Cup in France.

1998 World Cup England Glenn Hoddle (Reuters) - 0

The former England coach said he was told there was a bid to blow up the substitutes' bench during the clash with Tunisia - England's first of the tournament.

David Beckham, Michael Owen and Gary Neville were among the players in the dugout at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille while Hoddle himself and his backroom staff were nearby. Paul Merson, Steve McManaman, Nigel Martyn and Rob Lee were also substitutes that day.

England won 2-0 thanks to goals by Alan Shearer (pictured) and Paul Scholes but as the game was played out, the team knew nothing of the massive security operation going on around them.

Hoddle told the Daily Express: "There had been lots of trouble on the streets on the night before. I didn't know at the time, but I was told years later that certain people were trying to blow up the England bench.

"I know nothing more than that. It didn't cross my mind that something like that was happening."

David Davies, who was the FA head of communications at the time, backed up Hoddle's claims and said he was informed of the security concerns before the game.

Davies told the Daily Express: "Sir Brian Hayes was the FA's appointed head of security during the World Cup finals in France, and before the opening match in Marseille he alerted us to the possibility of a major security problem."

He added: "We knew that the England team had been targeted, but not the specifics. But I know we had security concerns in Marseille.

"The main thrust of the attention was the build-up around the streets the night before the game, and the violence that occurred. There was no media coverage, or knowledge of any immediate security alert concerning the England team."

Hoddle's team progressed from the group stage before they were eliminated on penalties by Argentina in the second round.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. a bit late in the day to tell us now

    From emeraldjane2000, on Thu 8 Oct 11:22PM

  2. craig..yeah 80 mill,takes the pi55,football really­ needs to be regulated'how can clubs
    epect fans to­ stump up like they do..uefa or someone needs to put­ transfer and salary
    caps in effect,where all clubs­ across europe can pay or spend a certain limit...

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 11:00PM

  3. if the two came together it could as i said become a­ british league,would anyone want it??but at the same­ time it's not hard to understand where the old firm­ are comig from,
    they've hit a ceiling for too­ long,and their not really getting anywhere and neither­ is
    scottish football, i don't mean to sound­ arrogant..

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 10:54PM

  4. football its all just about money now 80 million­ ronaldo taking the p i s s

    From Edward, on Thu 8 Oct 10:41PM

  5. saw the post good comment jabasco it will ruin scottish­ football

    From Edward, on Thu 8 Oct 10:35PM

  6. craig..just a bad move for scottish football and the­ possible loss of being an independent football­ association..did you read my post on that??

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 10:26PM

  7. well jabasco celtic and rangers should stay in the­ scottish league not good enough for england could not­ match the man u chelsea liverpol arsenal man city and­ if they do get in start from the low divison and make­ their way up

    From Edward, on Thu 8 Oct 10:16PM

  8. 111..idi. f..k off and stick to being a caninbal..

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 10:13PM

  9. craig,that c.unt never bought me a beer,he's no pal­ of mine..

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 10:11PM

  10. Who would want to bomb an English team who at that time­ was so bad they couldn't beat a third division team­ from Uganda. And why did it have to be 11 years before­ the world knows about this plot.

    From LAWAN, on Thu 8 Oct 10:08PM

  11. edward if just seen the celtic page'what do you­ think about the old firm coming south??
    checkout the­ post i left..no insults whatsoever..

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 10:00PM

  12. jabasco ur freinds needs help cannavaro fails drug test­ page

    From Edward, on Thu 8 Oct 9:53PM

  13. beckham and neville would have been no loss, neither­ would MacPointyman.

    From roger h, on Thu 8 Oct 9:50PM

  14. what is it with you lot !!!! you are all brain dead !!!­ not a sensible comment to be seen anywhere !!!! what is­ it with "Football" !!! as soon as a football­ article comes up ,, all the retards come out of the­ woodwork !!!! it would help if they could spell !!!!­ "I WAS A NORD IRONED i TEEM OND THAS WEE "­ what on earth is this idiot on about ?????? looking on­ this page just about sums up the mentallity of some­ people !!!! no wonder Britain is in the state its in­ with people like this living there !!!!!

    From ice man, on Thu 8 Oct 9:45PM

  15. Kabooom.. Huddle's wasted

    From eurosportcommentator, on Thu 8 Oct 9:43PM

  16. mr craig' how can you say that all these years we­ have known each other...

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 9:36PM

  17. mr craig only in your own imagination did that­ happen'but if you belive in your own­
    publicity'then good for you..

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 9:35PM

  18. getting ready for some beers at the weekend with my­ goodfriend mr blacktooth...

    From walt jabasco, on Thu 8 Oct 9:32PM

  19. Learn to speak

    From buymydrugs1, on Thu 8 Oct 9:17PM

  20. *sigh*

    Oh for "what could have been"...

    From Jake N, on Thu 8 Oct 9:04PM
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