By Andrew Warshaw
November 22 – Jack Warner, FIFA’s longest serving vice-president, has described as “stupid” a forthcoming BBC investigation into World Cup bidding.
Warner, expected to vote for England at next week’s secret World Cup ballot, says the controversial Panorama programme will not in any way enhance England’s chances.
Panorama is planning to screen the programme on Monday (November 29), three days before the vote, and has written to Warner as well as FIFA President Sepp Blatter asking for responses to a number of allegations.
Warner has been targeted by Panorama in the past and he claims it is “a personal vendetta” and that the programme is merely returning to old allegations.
England 2018 leaders have already branded the BBC “unpatriotic” for screening the investigation so close to the vote, fearing it will lead to a backlash.
“I am sure it’s a personal vendetta,” Warner said.
“But it is sooooooooooo stupid [sic]…for it can have no effect on me personally or on anyone else in FIFA for that matter.
“In my personal opinion, it is deliberately designed to negatively impact on England’s chances.”
In an email to the Press Association, Warner added: “It is just a rehash of the same old bullsh*t so I continue to sleep very soundly at nights.”
Warner – expected to meet British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday (November 25) as part of a late lobbying campaign by England 2018 – is president of the CONCACAF federation which delivers three critical votes on December 2.
He has already gone on record as saying that England or Russia should win next week but England are taking nothing for granted in a last-ditch attempt to secure backing.
A four-strong team have headed to the Asian footballer of the year awards in Kuala Lumpur to woo the four Asian FIFA members while international bid president David Dein is in Rio de Janeiro for the Soccerex conference.
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