Have BBC OverSepped the mark? England's bid for 2018

The winning host will be announced to the world on the 2nd of December. Just when the FA needed everybody to play ball, BBC Panorama will air another potential sting on the corruption of FIFA. The Sunday Times has led the way with their earlier sting which has resulted in the sacking of two officials but some FIFA delegates such as Asia’s Mohamed Bin Hammam have openly criticized their tactics" How dare they catch us out on our brown envelope expenses" he may have said

On top of this we have seen Lord Triseman land out on his backside for claiming the Spanish and Russians were in cahoots, we have seen Russia claim England is full of drunk knife yielding yobs(hello kettle), Spain/Portugal apparently were cozying up to Qatar for favours and its suddenly these guys make you wonder are we too harsh on the Irish Government.

The only bid not tarnished is Belgium/Holland but their odds are 50/1. The problem here is that they don’t have government backing or enough big stadia..

England is now 13/8. The positives being its ready made. They could host the thing tomorrow without any need to improve stadia or infrastructure. After the World Cups of South Africa and Brazil (how bad could that turn out?) it would be wise for FIFA to go for the safe option, have a giant well run World Cup comparable to Germany 2006.

One of the main drawbacks for England is in truth down to 2006. They went for that World Cup after stabbing Germany in the back reneging on a Gentleman’s agreement that Germany would support England for Euro 1996 in return for support in 2006. England ended up unsuccessful and short of allies after that one. Silly English, there's a reason you haven't hosted the World Cup since 1966. Ireland likes you though, please give us €7 billion.

Where will the votes come from? 22 votes decide and at present 7 seem destined for Spain/Portugal, the 3 African votes look to be going east to Russia and Sepp supporters will likely vote Russia.

This is how vote could breakdown after round one with Holland/Belgium eliminated if Engalnd win all those members they need to win. Of course the vote is secret and I am merely offering an opinion but at best I can see Spain/Portugal with 8, England with 8 and Russia with 6. This would mean Russia (the Even money favourite) would be eliminated in round 2. The problem I see is England are unlikely to win all 8 and even if they did, natural anti English bias after the scandals would push the members left to vote for whoever was left. I simply cannot see England winning the bid.

Name Nationality President Joseph S. Blatter Switzerland (Russia)

Senior Vice-President Julio Grondona Argentina (Spain/Portugal)

Vice-Presidents

Issa Hayatou Cameroon (Russia)

Chung Mong Joon South Korea(England)

Jack Warner Trinidad and Tobago (England)

Ángel María Villar Spain (Spain?portugal)

Michel Platini France (Spain/Portugal)

Geoff Thompson England(England)

Members Michel D'Hooghe Belgium (England)

Ricardo Terra Teixeira Brazil (Spain)

Mohammed Bin Hammam Qatar (Spain)

Senes Erzik Turkey (Russia)

Chuck Blazer United States of America(England)

Nicolas Leoz Paraguay (Spain)

Worawi Makudi Thailand(England)

Junji Ogura Japan(England)

Marios Lefkaritis Cyprus(England)

Jacques Anouma Ivory Coast (Russia)

Franz Beckenbauer Germany (Spain)

Rafael Salguero Guatemala (Spain)

Hany Abo Rida Egypt (Russia)

Vitaly Mutko Russia((Russia)

So who will win between Russia and Spain/Portugal?

Russia is just another Sepp Blatter dream. Spread the football to the new market to maximize revenue. The problem is 13 out 16 Stadiums would need to be built or massively refurbished. It would be the largest land mass ever for a World Cup and even with high speed rail(that only links 6 cities) air travel would be necessary between stadiums. They have talked about pockets for certain groups and the funding appears to be there. But what is also there is Racism. Russia football would make English football from the 80’s wince. Banana chants and boos of Black players is widespread and while Russia would promise to sort it out before the World Cup starts that coupled along with the public spats with England and vastness of the country may make it a gamble not worth taking.

Spain/Portugal also has the Stadiums like England. It has the transport and it has the climate and right TV zone. It has everything England boasts except they haven’t made any enemies. Spain last hosted the World Cup in 1982 and Portugal recently hosted Euro 2004 but they are the right bid and only co hosting is the big drawback along with perhaps Ireland causing their economies to collapse and bringing down the whole of the EU. They were 7/1 a few weeks ago and are now 3/1. Follow the money as they are no way the outsiders of 3. 7 votes look in the bag out of 22 look on the cards and once it becomes a choice between them and either |Russia or England, expect the neutral to favour the Iberians

Betting

Russia EVS

England 13/8

Spain/Portugal 3/1

Holland/Belgium 50/1