Premier League chief quits World Cup bid team
Sir Dave Richards, chairman of Premier League, resigns from England's bid to host 2018 or 2022 World Cups
Tuesday, 24, Nov 2009 04:21
By Matthew Champion
Sir Dave Richards, the chairman of the Premier League, has resigned from the board England's bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.
He wrote to Football Association and bid chairman Lord Triesman today informing him of his decision, which comes just weeks after the board was streamlined to seven.
"I feel I can now best support a successful bid without the necessity of sitting on the board," Sir Dave wrote.
"My positions as Premier League chairman, FA board member and chairman of the FA's international committee provide me with ample opportunities to bang the drum for English football, and the bid particularly, right across the world, which I will continue to do wherever and whenever I can."
The changes to the board this month saw six members step down, including sport minister Gerry Sutcliffe, with former FA chairman Geoff Thompson - the only Englishman on the 24-strong Fifa executive committee - joining.
In his letter of resignation, Sir Dave added: "My belief is that England has all the right attributes to host a successful Fifa World Cup - our challenge now is to convince the 24 members of Fifa's ExCo executive committee of that.
"This must be our focus and priority going forward."
Lord Triesman's team had come under fire recently after it emerged they had bought luxury handbags for wives and partners of the executive committee.
England are bidding to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, as are Australia, Belgium/Netherlands, Indonesia, Japan, Portugal/Spain, Russia and the US.
Qatar and South Korea are also bidding to host just the 2022 World Cup.
A decision on both tournaments from Fifa is expected in December 2010.