World Cup heartbreak for England

England's roller-coaster campaign to host the 2018 World Cup ended in bitter and controversial defeat in Zurich on Thursday.

FIFA's executive committee voted to give the tournament to Russia ahead of England, Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium.
England looked to have suffered from a backlash against corruption investigations into FIFA members by BBC Panorama and the Sunday Times over the last two months.
These investigations were criticised both by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and Spain/Portugal bid president Angel Villar Llona in his presentation to fellow FIFA members on Thursday.
Villar Llona: said: "I love FIFA dearly but those I love the most are my colleagues in the ExCo.
"Recently we have been criticised by many media outlets. Unfortunately for them FIFA is a clean institution.
"FIFA values honesty, FIFA works for football and for the world and all my colleagues here present are all honest, hard-working football people and the people not here are also honest and hard-working.
"You have already heard enough slander in the media, the bidding process is clean regardless of what they say."
Six FIFA officials were last month suspended following a Sunday Times investigations and on Monday BBC Panorama claimed three other FIFA members had taken bribes in the 1990s.
The defeat comes despite an impressive presentation by England that was described by FIFA president Sepp Blatter as "excellent and remarkable".
Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham all sparkled but were all outshone by 27-year-old Eddie Afekafe, who works on Manchester City's community programmes.
Afekafe explained how football had changed his life before introducing the prince to the 22 FIFA executive committee members.
William then said: "I love football, we English love football and it would be an honour for us to host the World Cup."
Beckham had made an emotional pitch, drawing on memories of his grandad Joe who died a year ago today, just before he took part in the South African World Cup draw in Cape Town.
Beckham said: "My life in football began with my grandad Joe. A year ago today my grandad died, the day before the draw. Now I want to do something that will make my grandad proud.
"Now I want to do more. Our dream is to stage a World Cup that benefits billions, that makes you, your grandchildren and everyone in football truly proud."
Earlier, Cameron had highlighted the Government's support and a commercial success for the tournament, and said England's bid would deliver for players, fans and FIFA.


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Vladimir Putin: World Cup decision was fair

The contest to host the 2018 World Cup was "fair", Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin insisted.

The contest to host the 2018 World Cup was "fair", Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin insisted tonight.
Putin, who did not go to Zurich until after Russia was declared the winner, said the country was "honoured" by FIFA's decision and dismissed suggestions England's bid was cheated.
He told a press conference: "Each bid is very special and significant.
"Each bid is a challenge and we are honoured to win in this tough and fair fight."
Mr Putin dismissed the suggestion that England had been "cheated" out of holding the World Cup.
He replied: "No, I don't think. You know, Great Britain is a great football country and in Russia we have a lot of fans of your football in general and your football players in particular.
"Great Britain lost. It lost, but we are waiting for you in 2018 and we will do our best for the football players, for the English football players, for them to realise themselves."
Describing the power of football to make a difference in the world "for the better", Putin pledged a successful World Cup in eight years' time.
He said: "You can take my word for it that the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be up to the highest standards.
"New modern stadiums and facilities will be built in time and to perfection.
"We are eager to do our best to secure the comfort and safety of our guests.
"Thank you for supporting Russia.
"Together let us make sure that football promotes fair play, tolerance, honour."
Asked why he did not join the bid team to take part in the presentation, Putin said it was a "complicated" decision which he had made himself.


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England's 2018 World Cup bid timeline

A look at the timeline of England's 2018 FIFA World Cup bid.

2007: October 31 - The FA confirm England will bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals.
2008: October 12 - The FA confirm Manchester United chief executive David Gill and Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney will both be on Lord Triesman's England 2018 Limited executive board.
October - Current and former England internationals David Beckham and John Barnes are appointed vice-presidents of the bid.
November 11 - England head coach Fabio Capello is one of six new bid vice-presidents announced. The others are Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, former FA chairman Geoff Thompson, Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy and Lord Stern of Brentford, formerly chief economist of the World Bank.
November 20 - Andy Anson, the former commercial director of Manchester United, is appointed chief executive of England's bid.
2009: January 27 - England officially submit their bid.
February 2 - England are one of 11 nations - along with Spain/Portugal, Russia, Holland/Belgium, USA, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Qatar, Indonesia and South Korea - to express an interest in hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cup finals.
March 17 - Mohamed Bin Hammam, the president of the Asian football Confederation and a FIFA executive committee member, said England ``deserve'' to host the World Cup.
March 19 - Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards is appointed a deputy chairman of England's bid.
May 18 - Beckham, Wayne Rooney and then Prime Minister Gordon Brown officially launch England's bid at Wembley.
October 13 - Karren Brady, a former managing director of Birmingham, and former Celtic and Chelsea defender Paul Elliott are appointed as bid board members.
October 22 - The full 50-man squad of ambassadors for the bid is announced and includes then England captain John Terry.
October 22 - England chiefs insist they are acting ``within the spirit and letter'' of bidding rules after being criticised for making gifts of designer handbags to FIFA executive members.
November 4 - Jack Warner returns the designer handbag given to his wife by England bid leaders.
November 12 - England bid leaders announce a major re-structuring of its board following an emergency meeting. FIFA vice-president Geoff Thompson is included alongside Sir Dave Richards, Lord Mawhinney, Lord Coe, Elliott and Anson. Original board members such as David Gill, Sir Keith Mills and sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe are to join an advisory group headed by Brady.
November 24 - Premier League chairman Richards resigns from the England bid board.
2010: May 14 - Beckham presents England's 1,700-page bid book to FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Zurich.
May 16 - Allegations emerge that Lord Triesman accused the Spanish and Russian football federations of bribery. Triesman resigns from his positions as Football Association chairman and 2018 bid chief. He is replaced as bid chairman by Thompson.
May 17 - FIFA announce that their ethics committee will investigate Lord Triesman's comments but later decide not to pursue the matter.
October 19 - Russia's bid leader Alexei Sorokin speaks of London's ``high crime rate'' and youth alcohol problems in an interview.
October 26 - England bid chiefs confirm they have made a complaint to FIFA over Sorokin's comments.
October 28 - England bid is described as ``absolutely primitive'' and ``comical'' by Russian bid advisor Viacheslav Koloskov.
October 28 - England ready to withdraw complaint to FIFA against the head of Russia's World Cup bid after receiving an apology from Russian sports minister.
November 2 - A senior FIFA figure condemns an undercover investigation into World Cup bidding as ``unethical''.
November 4 - England leaders admit an undercover investigation into FIFA by a British newspaper has ``significantly damaged'' their bid to host the World Cup.
November 4 - England chiefs visit BBC director-general Mark Thompson to express fears that a Panorama investigation into FIFA could fatally harm their World Cup bid.
November 10 - The contents of a notorious note passed between two FIFA members indicates that Spain/Portugal and Qatar's World Cup bids will escape any action over allegations of collusion.
November 11 - Prince William and Prime Minister David Cameron revealed as part of England's delegation for December's vote.
November 12 - Dein meets Blatter in Zurich in an effort to revive the struggling bid.
November 15 - England bid leaders send letter to all FIFA executive committee members to try to repair the damage caused by two media investigations.
November 17 - England and Spain/Portugal's 2018 World Cup bids are ranked equally as 'low risk' overall by FIFA's inspectors but rivals Russia are 'medium risk'.
November 17 - Anson accuses the BBC of being ``unpatriotic'' and ``sensationalist'' by choosing to broadcast a Panorama expose of FIFA three days before the vote.
November 18 - Cameron telephones FIFA's vice-president Warner to invite him to lunch in an effort to boost England's hopes.
November 22 - Warner hits out at Panorama's investigation by claiming it has been ``deliberately designed to negatively impact'' on England's chances of hosting the tournament.
November 23 - The head of Spain/Portugal's World Cup 2018 bid claim they already have as many as eight of the 22 FIFA votes in the bag.
November 24 - England's bid hopes dealt a blow after it was reported that South America's three FIFA members will all vote for Spain/Portugal.
November 25 - The Qatari president of the Asian Football Confederation confirms for the first time that he will support Spain/Portugal's bid.
November 26 - Cameron speaks of his frustration that Panorama will screen their programme just three days before the World Cup vote.
November 28 - Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed bin Hammam denies reports stating that he has agreed to back the Spain/Portugal bid.
November 29 - Panorama accuse three FIFA executive committee members of taking bribes.
November 30 - UEFA president Michel Platini insists the BBC Panorama programme should not affect England's bid.
November 30 - Warner brushes aside the Panorama programme insisting he has no interest in the claims made.
November 30 - Panorama's claims of corruption against FIFA vice-president Issa Hayatou to be investigated by the International Olympic Committee. Hayatou threatens legal action against Panorama. Hayatou also says he will not take out his anger on England's bid.
December 1 - England's bid receives a huge boost after Vladimir Putin, prime minister of Russia, confirms he will not be travelling to Zurich for the vote.
December 2 - Prince William leads England's 2018 World Cup presentation to FIFA by telling members: ``I love football, we English love football and it would be an honour for us to host the World Cup.''
December 2 - England lose the bid to Russia and Qatar gets the 2022 hosting rights.


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Russia and Qatar land World Cups

Russia and Qatar have won the rights to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively as announced by FIFA on Thursday in Zurich.

The result means England's roller-coaster campaign to host the 2018 World Cup ended in bitter and controversial defeat.

FIFA's executive committee voted to give the 2018 tournament to Russia ahead of England, Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium.

England looked to have suffered from a backlash against corruption investigations into FIFA members by BBC Panorama and the Sunday Times over the last two months.

These investigations were criticised both by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin yesterday and Spain/Portugal bid president Angel Villar Llona in his presentation to fellow FIFA members on Thursday.

Villar Llona: said: "I love FIFA dearly but those I love the most are my colleagues in the ExCo.

"Recently we have been criticised by many media outlets. Unfortunately for them FIFA is a clean institution.

"FIFA values honesty, FIFA works for football and for the world and all my colleagues here present are all honest, hard-working football people and the people not here are also honest and hard-working.

"You have already heard enough slander in the media, the bidding process is clean regardless of what they say."

Six FIFA officials were last month suspended following a Sunday Times investigations and on Monday BBC Panorama claimed three other FIFA members had taken bribes in the 1990s.

The defeat comes despite an impressive presentation by England that was described by FIFA president Sepp Blatter as "excellent and remarkable".

Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham all sparkled but were all outshone by 27-year-old Eddie Afekafe, who works on Manchester City's community programmes.

Afekafe explained how football had changed his life before introducing the prince to the 22 FIFA executive committee members.

William then said: "I love football, we English love football and it would be an honour for us to host the World Cup."

Beckham had made an emotional pitch, drawing on memories of his grandad Joe who died a year ago today, just before he took part in the South African World Cup draw in Cape Town.

Beckham said: "My life in football began with my grandad Joe. A year ago today my grandad died, the day before the draw. Now I want to do something that will make my grandad proud.

"Now I want to do more. Our dream is to stage a World Cup that benefits billions, that makes you, your grandchildren and everyone in football truly proud."

Earlier, Cameron had highlighted the Government's support and a commercial success for the tournament, and said England's bid would deliver for players, fans and FIFA.

Handed the World Cup by Blatter, Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov celebrated, saying: "You have entrusted us with the Fifa World Cup for 2018 and I can promise, we all can promise, you will never regret it.

"Let us make history together."

Major of London Boris Johnson told reporters that, according to information he had received about the voting, England had been knocked out in the first round.

Meanwhile, Qatar will host the World Cup finals for the first time after FIFA awarded them the rights to the 2022 tournament.

Qatar beat bids from Australia, the United States and 2002 World Cup co-hosts Japan and South Korea.

The FIFA executive committees' decision comes as a slight surprise after the US and Australia bids had been highly-fancied.

Qatar's staging of the tournament had come in for some criticism because of the weather in the country during June and July - when temperatures can rise as high as 50 degrees Celsius - while the close proximity of the stadiums had also raised some questions.

Qatar's success in Thursday's vote comes just over a month before they are schedule to host the Asian Cup finals.

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