One has to feel sorry for the media; they make convenient scapegoats and can be blamed for anything. In the latest round of finger-pointing, the British media is being blamed for England failing to win the bid to host the 2018 Soccer World Cup.
The first person to cast a stone was Fifa vice-president Jack Warner. He blamed the UK Sunday Times' investigation into corruption at Fifa, which was followed by a BBC broadcast a mere three days before the vote. According to Warner, "Fifa could not have voted for England having been insulted by their media in the worst possible way. To do so would have been the ultimate insult to Fifa."
England's 2018 bid team called the Panorama programme, which was broadcast by the BBC, an "embarrassment".
But it's more likely that the bid campaign was the real embarrassment. Mike Lee, a public relations expert who worked on London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics, said, "This England bid campaign was not Premier League, it was relegation and League One. I'm not sure it is healthy to blame everyone else, and not reflect on the campaign itself."
Then there's also the fact that the investigation into corruption may have been warranted. Shortly before South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup there were rumours that Sepp Blatter engaged in the odd case of nepotism. Allegations of bribery and corruption were raised with regard to Fifa approved accommodation.
The UK documentary alleges that problems with bribery go all the way back to the 1990s, and claims that three Fifa executive committee members were not above some financial persuasion. Small wonder, then, that England was snubbed. But that old saying about smoke and fire might apply. Roger Burden, the current acting chief of the Football Association, has withdrawn his application for the permanent position. In a letter to board members Burden said, "I recognise that an important part of the role is liaison with Fifa, our global governing body. I'm not prepared to deal with people whom I cannot trust and I've withdrawn my candidacy."
There have also been calls for international football associations to put pressure on Fifa to "reform" and it's been suggested that the voting system is due for a change.
Considering Fifa's (read Blatter's) love of control, it's unlikely that anything will change. And regarding the alleged corruption, many people have found, often to their detriment, that Fifa doesn't like to be crossed. The media can keep digging, but it's unlikely that anything concrete will come of it.
The first person to cast a stone was Fifa vice-president Jack Warner. He blamed the UK Sunday Times' investigation into corruption at Fifa, which was followed by a BBC broadcast a mere three days before the vote. According to Warner, "Fifa could not have voted for England having been insulted by their media in the worst possible way. To do so would have been the ultimate insult to Fifa."
England's 2018 bid team called the Panorama programme, which was broadcast by the BBC, an "embarrassment".
But it's more likely that the bid campaign was the real embarrassment. Mike Lee, a public relations expert who worked on London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics, said, "This England bid campaign was not Premier League, it was relegation and League One. I'm not sure it is healthy to blame everyone else, and not reflect on the campaign itself."
Then there's also the fact that the investigation into corruption may have been warranted. Shortly before South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup there were rumours that Sepp Blatter engaged in the odd case of nepotism. Allegations of bribery and corruption were raised with regard to Fifa approved accommodation.
The UK documentary alleges that problems with bribery go all the way back to the 1990s, and claims that three Fifa executive committee members were not above some financial persuasion. Small wonder, then, that England was snubbed. But that old saying about smoke and fire might apply. Roger Burden, the current acting chief of the Football Association, has withdrawn his application for the permanent position. In a letter to board members Burden said, "I recognise that an important part of the role is liaison with Fifa, our global governing body. I'm not prepared to deal with people whom I cannot trust and I've withdrawn my candidacy."
There have also been calls for international football associations to put pressure on Fifa to "reform" and it's been suggested that the voting system is due for a change.
Considering Fifa's (read Blatter's) love of control, it's unlikely that anything will change. And regarding the alleged corruption, many people have found, often to their detriment, that Fifa doesn't like to be crossed. The media can keep digging, but it's unlikely that anything concrete will come of it.
SHARE
