WARNER'S WORDS 'DISAPPOINT' FA
By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter (sportinglife.com)The Football Association have reacted with "shock and disappointment" after FIFA vice-president Jack Warner launched an attack on England's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup.
Warner, president of the CONCACAF federation which represents north and central America and the Caribbean, believes the 2018 finals should be held in one of his member countries.
Warner said in an interview with BBC World Service that he will "fight to the very end" to stop FIFA changing the rotation rules and allowing Europe to host the World Cup in 11 years' time.
He also claimed England has no support in Europe, is an "irritant" to other European countries and has had "no impact in world football".
The FA have written to Warner regarding the comments.
FA chairman Geoff Thompson, who is also a FIFA and UEFA vice-president, said: "I have written to Jack Warner to clarify the accuracy of the quotes and request his views and an explanation as to why he made them if they are accurate.
"Understandably, we were shocked and disappointed to read the views attributed to Mr Warner, with whom we have enjoyed a very good relationship.
"Until we have all the facts in front of us at the FA, we are both unwilling and unable to pass any comment regarding these potentially explosive remarks.
"However, regarding the FIFA World Cup 2018, the FA, with the full support of the British Government, has already indicated that should FIFA award the World Cup to Europe in 2018, we will give serious consideration to making such a bid."
Warner claimed that England are unlikely to win the race to be hosts.
He said: "If by chance, in 2018, the World Cup were to go to Europe, I'm quite sure, with the English luck as it is, they won't get it.
"It'll be Italy, Spain, or it might even be France. Nobody in Europe likes England. England - who invented the sport - has never had any impact on World Football. England at no time has had the love and support of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant.
"There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that. I really don't believe that we should just lay down and play dead to anyone who wants to take the World Cup from CONCACAF.
"I know in FIFA there are those persons who believe the rules should be changed to satisfy Europe but I tell you this today we shall fight it to the very end."
Richard Caborn, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's World Cup ambassador, said Warner is clearly trying secure the 2018 finals for his federation.
Caborn said: "I think it is very unfortunate what Jack Warner is saying but I can understand that he is fighting his corner as president of CONCACAF.
"He is not speaking on behalf of FIFA, who will decide later this year whether the continue with rotation.
"What's pleasing is that two other executive committee members are committed to Europe.
"UEFA president Michel Platini, who is also a FIFA vice-president, has come out very clearly to say that he will be fighting for it to come to a European country.
"Franz Beckenbauer, who is also a FIFA executive member, is not just supportive of it coming to Europe but to England in 2018."
Caborn also said the Football Association could not be accused of having no impact in world football.
He added: "To attack the FA in this way is unfortunate.
"They are running many educational programmes around the world and for the last seven years have run three major football workshops in the West Indies."
Warner also spoke about Manchester United's recent signing of a nine-year-old Australian, who the club say had recently moved to England.
He added: "It's obscene and most absurd. And we have to fight that and put laws in place to prevent those things.
"That is almost a kind of football slavery...and we have to understand that slavery by any form is slavery."
Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago, believes the colour of his skin would prevent him from succeeding FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
"You have black footballers on the field of play. In administration you have whites. I have seen this for 25 years.
"But I haven't given up. I haven't thrown my hands up in the air. I am there to fight it and to show that we as black people are equally as competent as the white guys."
"It's all good to have a banner to say: 'Say No To Racism'. Once a year a banner on a field of play can't prevent racism. It has to be an on-going process. I don't think FIFA is ready for a black president yet."
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