World Cup 2010 - Japan chief says FIFA 'damaged'
A member of FIFA's ruling executive committee has admitted that claims of corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup have damaged the world governing body's reputation.
Junji Ogura, the Japanese member of the 24-man committee that will decide on the 2018 and 2022 hosts next month also says the status of the tournament has also been affected. Ogura also insists England should not give up hope despite bid leaders admitting their campaign has been badly damaged by the recent Sunday Times undercover investigation into FIFA.
Ogura told the BBC: "We are totally disappointed and yes, I am sure there is damage for FIFA and for the World Cup."
Two other executive committee members, Nigeria's Amos Adamu and Tahiti's Reynald Temarii, have already been suspended following corruption allegations pending a hearing next week by FIFA's ethics committee. They deny any wrongdoing.
Ogura added: "We were very surprised and disappointed when the executive committee announced two members had been provisionally suspended. We are waiting for the outcome of the FIFA ethics committee later this month and we don't know if they are innocent."
England's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup have been "significantly damaged" by the Sunday Times' allegations, according to a senior bid leader, who fear even more fall-out from a BBC Panorama investigation.
The England bid now looks to be in third place among the four European bidders for 2018 behind Spain/Portugal and Russia, ahead of only Holland/Belgium.
Allegations of collusion between Spain/Portugal and Qatar are also to be dealt with by FIFA's ethics committee next week but so far little concrete evidence has emerged.
England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson visited BBC director general Mark Thompson this week to express fears that the Panorama investigation could fatally harm their bid because FIFA members are angry at being targeted by the English media.
Ogura insisted however that England are still in the running, adding: "Their chances are very big. The contents of the English bid everyone appreciates very much."
Comment 1 - 5 of 5
you are wrong jan England have hosted euro 1996 and they already hosting the olympics which they are already struggling to meet the amount of money required yes England can host the world cup tomorow but also can Sapin/Portugal besides we have better stadiums the best airports in the world even the comitee went to Madrid to take a look at the Bernabeu and in 1 hour they were in Barcelona by train and besides Spain have just won the world cup and are the most excited to see the matches and even if they lose they dont boooooo their own players!
Vamos!
How Russia can be in front of England?? Till now Russia has only one great stadium. In England worldcup could start next day!
And whats the sense to build in Russia 10 new big stadiums and after the worldcup most of stadiums are rarely used or empty like in south afrika!
England or spain/portugal should get it...
Well, Holland Belgium had Euro 2000.
Spain had the Euro in 1964 and WC in 1982.
Portugal had the Euro in 2004.
England had the 1966 WC and the 1996 Euro.
Russia had nothing.
I don't know. Though it's not a great argument to say that "Russia never anything. Let's give it to them", as there are tons of other countries that never hosted the WC, besides Russia and more deserving than them (Holland, per example).
I don't know.
I haven't seen the Panorama documentary but would like to, but the idea that this can affect the British bid is wrong and shows how unprofessional an organization Fifa is. If the investigation was untrue, surely Fifa could sue the makers of the documentary rather than punish the English bid. A world cup is due to England. Spain hosted it in 1982 so I don't think they should be ahead of the UK, although Russia and Holland/ Belgium have legitimate rights to hold it, as legitimate as England's. Portugal have also recently held the Euro championship. For me England's bid is the best. The stadiums and infrastructure are already there and England hasn't hosted for longer than Spain and Portugal (unless you count Euro 96). Russia does not have the infrastructure so the bid may be risky and stadiums are better in England than Holland/ Belgium too.
Remember Panorama's Buying the Games? Probably the best bit of journalism since Watergate.
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