PM delighted by Fifa decision
Gordon Brown welcomes Fifa decision to abandon World Cup rotation policy
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Monday, 29, Oct 2007 10:30
Gordon Brown says he is "delighted" by Fifa's decision to abandon its World Cup rotation policy from 2018 onwards, which paves the way for an England bid.
Under Fifa tradition, the 2018 World Cup would have been held in North America after previously being staged in Asia (Japan and South Korea 2002), Europe (Germany 2006), Africa (South Africa 2010) and South America (Brazil 2014).
But Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who himself introduced the rotation policy, announced the change in practice at a meeting of the world governing body's executive committee in Zurich.
While the Football Association has yet to launch an official bid to host the 2018 tournament, the prime minister has pledged the government's "full support".
"I am delighted that Fifa has opened the door for the World Cup to come back to England. By 2018, it will be 52 years since England hosted the World Cup. The nation which gave football to the world deserves to have the greatest tournament back on these shores," he said from No 10.
"If the FA decides to go ahead and bid for the tournament, they know they will have the full support of the government behind them, and we will make it our mission to persuade other countries to back us in bringing the World Cup back to England."
But Brian Barwick, the FA chief executive, said that despite England's "fantastic stadiums, unique tradition and passion for the game", potential rivals China and Australia would offer "strong competition"
"While we are still to confirm if we will launch a bid to host the 2018 World Cup, today's news is very encouraging," he continued.
"It is exactly what we were hoping for and we will now discuss a timetable for a potential bid.
"We have already received tremendous support from prime minister Gordon Brown and the government, and we all recognise the importance of government support in any bidding process.
"If we do bid, and England is awarded the 2018 World Cup, I'm sure it would be brilliant for English football and the whole country."