FIFA are pressurising the Government to remove the World Cup from the list of sports events that must be shown on terrestrial television or risk England missing out on hosting the 2018 World Cup, an MP claimed in the UK Parliament today.
Labour MP John Grogan said ministers had told him that football's world governing body had warned them that the bid to stage the finals in England in nine years' time would be under threat if the majority of the World Cup finals tournament stayed on the protected list.
Former Football Association executive director David Davies is heading a panel who will decide which sporting events should feature on the list, and he admitted his job was a tough one to strike the right political balance.
Grogan, MP for Selby, said in a parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall today: "I wish to warn the House and, indeed, football supporters up and down the country, that FIFA has made it perfectly clear to ministers and the Football Association authorities that if we want to get the World Cup in 2018, we have to amend our listed events legislation and that we have to substantially de-list the World Cup.
"Ministers and the FA authorities are under pressure, which is one - although not the only - reason why the listed events review has been brought forward."
Grogan added: "In recent weeks, two events have not exactly changed my life, but have opened my eyes.
"For the first and probably only time in my life I was invited to the royal box at Wembley.
"As chairman of the all-party group on Ukraine (and) I had the opportunity to talk to all sorts of officials from the FA that evening.
"Department for Culture, Media and Sport dignitaries and others were there, and it was clear that they all wanted a substantial amount of the World Cup to be de-listed to sugar the pill for FIFA and to try to get it to award us the World Cup in 2018."
Asked about Mr Grogan's claim that ministers had told him that FIFA were demanding the World Cup be de-listed, Davies said: "I don't know. We will be asking the FA that and those who are running the bid. If that's what he believes he is absolutely right to say it, to express it."
And asked if his job was a 'massive balancing act', he replied: "You might say that.
"It is, because whatever I say it's very interesting - it sort of reverberates around.
"Do I care about it? I care about it very passionately because I know what it's like on both sides of the fence."
Sport minister Gerry Sutcliffe agreed with Grogan that sport could bring the nation together and said that was one of the reasons a review had been ordered.
The last review had taken place 10 years ago, he said, and the broadcasting landscape had changed since then.
"It's very important to say that the panel haven't got any conclusions at this stage," Sutcliffe said.
"They are genuinely looking at the evidence that's coming to them."
Former Football Association executive director David Davies is heading a panel who will decide which sporting events should feature on the list, and he admitted his job was a tough one to strike the right political balance.
Grogan, MP for Selby, said in a parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall today: "I wish to warn the House and, indeed, football supporters up and down the country, that FIFA has made it perfectly clear to ministers and the Football Association authorities that if we want to get the World Cup in 2018, we have to amend our listed events legislation and that we have to substantially de-list the World Cup.
"Ministers and the FA authorities are under pressure, which is one - although not the only - reason why the listed events review has been brought forward."
Grogan added: "In recent weeks, two events have not exactly changed my life, but have opened my eyes.
"For the first and probably only time in my life I was invited to the royal box at Wembley.
"As chairman of the all-party group on Ukraine (and) I had the opportunity to talk to all sorts of officials from the FA that evening.
"Department for Culture, Media and Sport dignitaries and others were there, and it was clear that they all wanted a substantial amount of the World Cup to be de-listed to sugar the pill for FIFA and to try to get it to award us the World Cup in 2018."
Asked about Mr Grogan's claim that ministers had told him that FIFA were demanding the World Cup be de-listed, Davies said: "I don't know. We will be asking the FA that and those who are running the bid. If that's what he believes he is absolutely right to say it, to express it."
And asked if his job was a 'massive balancing act', he replied: "You might say that.
"It is, because whatever I say it's very interesting - it sort of reverberates around.
"Do I care about it? I care about it very passionately because I know what it's like on both sides of the fence."
Sport minister Gerry Sutcliffe agreed with Grogan that sport could bring the nation together and said that was one of the reasons a review had been ordered.
The last review had taken place 10 years ago, he said, and the broadcasting landscape had changed since then.
"It's very important to say that the panel haven't got any conclusions at this stage," Sutcliffe said.
"They are genuinely looking at the evidence that's coming to them."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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