Blatter hails England’s 2018 bid 14/10/2010 |
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Fifa president Sepp Blatter has praised England’s 2018 World Cup bid – and lauded the English game’s efforts to eradicate hooliganism.
He was speaking after meeting Prime Minister David Cameron in London, where he was given a presentation on England's bid.
Blatter said he was impressed by the bid, and urged other national associations to replicate the all-seater stadiums and lack of fences at the country's top clubs.
He believes such measures would have stopped the crowd trouble at this week’s Italy v Serbia match in Genoa, which had to be abandoned after just seven minutes.
"England is the motherland of football,” Blatter said. “England has given so much to football, and England is going on to carry on giving much to football.
"Your predecessors were in a very difficult situation during the years from 1985 to 1989 and so on. I don't want to speak about what happened then, but the reaction you have made.
"You have given to the world security in the stadiums. You have built all your stadia – there are no fences and everyone is sitting.
"If this had been the case, we would not have had the problems we had in Genoa.
"This is a big legacy, an important legacy you have given to the world.
"If only all the national associations in the world, and their leagues [had stadiums like this], we would have more fair play in our game.
"You did it – it's a question of organisation and it is also a question of discipline and respect. You did it here – and now we say, where are the hooligans?
"They are not in the stadium and this is a compliment to your government and your predecessors."
Blatter watched Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons before going to Downing Street for the presentation and lunch with Cameron, who was unable to meet him on his last visit in August as his wife was having their baby.
Cameron outlined England's global legacy plans which include matching Fifa’s estimated £75m annual investment in grassroots football.
Blatter added: "England can organise the World Cup tomorrow – that's not a problem – but what you are doing is a World Cup for the world.
"The situation is such that your bid has impressed me personally. I will report to the executive committee when they meet [at the end of October] before the December 2 decision."
Cameron promised the Government's full backing for hosting the tournament in England and paid tribute to Blatter for taking the World Cup to South Africa.
The Prime Minister also stressed that England had successfully dealt with racism from football – an issue for which rival bidder Russia has been criticised.
Cameron said: "I hope you see that England has got what it takes to host the greatest tournament on earth. I hope you can see how much our country wants this.
"Most important of all, I hope you have seen the real legacy that we plan to leave. Our bid is not about not what the World Cup can do for one country – it's about what the World Cup can do for the world.
"We are the most diverse football nation in the world and we have travelled so far in kicking racism right out of football, and that is one of the reasons why I believe we can make 2018 such a success."
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