David Owen Archives - Page 13 of 14 - Inside World Football

David Owen: The gloves are off in the fight for the World Cup

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Tuesday was the day that the gloves came off in the battle to stage the 2018 World Cup.

By making a formal complaint to FIFA, England 2018 signalled to its arch-rival Russia that from now on, in the five-and-a-half weeks that remain before the all-important December 2 vote, it will be playing hardball.

Quite when increasingly hard-pressed FIFA officials, ensconced in their ultra-modern slate-grey citadel in the hills above Zurich, will find the time to adjudicate the matter,

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David Owen: Why Blatter may yet be the real winner in FIFA’s vote for cash scandal

Another weekend approaches. All eyes in this turbulent 2018-22 World Cup bidding war will soon be turning again towards the Sunday Times.

After Wednesday’s dramatic media conference, complete with an appearance by the FIFA President himself, it seems to me this could now go one of three ways.

Scenario Number One: the well-resourced London newspaper unleashes its second volley; more FIFA Executive Committee members are embarrassed/forced to try and defend themselves;

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David Owen: End this rule-change voting system which unfairly favours Brits

I can still see the look of bemusement on the Brazilian journalist’s face.

It was in London a few years ago – in one of those expensive hotels along Park Lane.

Joseph Blatter, the FIFA President, had just explained the process by which the laws of football can be changed.

“So you mean to say,” the Brazilian journalist asked, still struggling evidently to grasp the enormity of what had been imparted,

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David Owen: FIFA bracing itself for more bad news

The Sunday Times exposé has exploded like a cannonball off the port bow of the good ship FIFA.

The allegations already spread across three broadsheet pages are damaging enough - although not everyone will have been surprised that the headline “World Cup votes for sale” should have appeared at some point in the campaign.

But there was the suggestion in yesterday evening’s FIFA statement that more unwelcome disclosures might be in store.

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David Owen: Kosovo dream of emulating Montenegro and playing at Wembley

At Wembley tonight, England’s footballers take on Montenegro in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

Improbably enough, it is the visitors who head the group with three wins out of three - pretty remarkable given that the country declared independence just four years ago and, at some 5,000 square miles, is a touch smaller than Northern Ireland and a touch bigger than Death Valley National Park.

As star player Mirko Vucinic and his team-mates pursue their dream tonight at one of world sport’s most famous venues,

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David Owen: Does campaigning matter? The Holland and Belgium vote will tell us

When I go to Stamford Bridge, I always try to walk via neighbouring Brompton cemetery.

The overgrown graves and weathered tombstones put things nicely into perspective.

Perhaps this helps to explain why - in the middle of the Leaders in Football debate on the race for the 2018 World Cup - I found myself thinking that none of it actually counted for very much.

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David Owen: Excess baggage – who gave the best gift to FIFA’s globe-trotting inspectors?

If you see a man wearing a glazed expression, a hard hat, a pair of UGG boots and an England shirt signed by Fabio Capello, don’t call the police.

It’s probably just a FIFA World Cup bid inspector.

Harold Mayne-Nicholls and his doughty band on Thursday completed their hectic perambulation around the nine bids and 11 countries still hoping to stage either the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup.

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David Owen: The mystery of the empty hospitality seats at South Africa 2010

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Since returning from South Africa, I have been wondering whether anyone was going to take a bath as a result of empty hospitality seats at the World Cup.

Actually, I’m still wondering, but at least now I have more information to go on following a conversation with Peter Csanadi, Head of Marketing at Match Hospitality AG.

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David Owen: Liverpool win the World Cup – sort of

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These are tense times to be a supporter of Liverpool Football Club.

But into every life a little sunshine must pour and, after spending two days number-crunching, I think I am in a position to announce a small piece of good news for Anfield-watchers.

The Reds look set to get a bumper share of the $40 million that FIFA has for the first time earmarked for payment to the clubs whose players took part in the recent World Cup in South Africa.

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David Owen: England must fear Russia and US charge for 2018 World Cup

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The 2010 World Cup is over.

FIFA’s 2018/2022 inspection team has hit the road.

With less than four months to go, the race to stage the next World Cup but one is finally steaming towards the top of the 24 FIFA Executive Committee members’ in-trays.

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David Owen: No China Crisis yet for Asian 2022 World Cup bidders

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On the face of it, Asian bidders for the 2022 World Cup were hit last week by some very bad news.

This took the form of an announcement by a top official at the Chinese Football Association that his powerhouse of a nation wants to host the 2026 World Cup.

“The CFA,” said Wei Di, its general secretary, “is preparing to ask the General Administration of Sport to bid for the 2026 World Cup”.

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David Owen: Final makes case for ice hockey-style sin bin

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Football is a remarkably conservative sport when it comes to changing the rules.

Normally, I’m all in favour of a cautious approach to this fundamental matter; it tends to be a sign of a sport in good health.

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David Owen: Is Spain v Holland a play-off for the 2018 World Cup?

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So Spain versus the Netherlands it is.

And an obvious question presents itself for students of the race to host the 2018 World Cup: Is this an omen for the vote in December?

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David Owen: An alternative World Cup – watching in the townships

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“On the other side of that roundabout, there will be goats by the side of the road.”

Few places better illustrate the vast wealth disparities that still exist in South Africa today than Alexandria.

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[b]David Owen:[/b] Germany avenge 1966 and all that – but FIFA the real loser

By David Owen in Bloemfontein

June 27 – I need to make one thing clear at the outset: England were beaten today at Free State Stadium by a much better team: the 4-1 scoreline did not flatter Germany.