Cameron “frustrated” by Panorama probe 29/11/2010 |
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British Prime Minister David Cameron had admitted he is “frustrated” by the timing of Panorama’s investigation into Fifa – but believes it will not affect England's 2018 World Cup bid.
The BBC programme will be aired on Monday (November 29) – just three days before the vote on December 2 in Zurich.
Cameron told BBC Sport: "Is it frustrating that Panorama's doing this programme a few days before? Of course it is. But it's a free country. I think Fifa will understand."
England 2018 bid chief executive Andy Anson had accused the BBC of being “unpatriotic” in airing the programme so soon before the vote.
And, with a recent Sunday Times investigation into world football's governing body also resulting in two Fifa officials being banned while four others were suspended, the British media were feared to be harming England's hopes.
But Cameron, who will be part of a 30-man delegation in Zurich this week trying to win votes, added: "I think we have to try and convince them [Fifa], yes we've got a robust and independent media, but our media love football, [especially] when it comes to the World Cup.
"In terms of audience, in terms of the press coverage around the world, actually the media will give it a fantastic boost here in this country.
"I think it's a very easy sell because if you think about it we've got the stadia, the fans, a country that's mad about football.
"It would be such a great World Cup if we had it here. One of the ways to sell it to the world is that the world watches English football, the world comes and plays its football in England and so bringing the World Cup to England is such a natural step.
"Now we've got a real fight on our hands in Zurich, but I'm looking forward to it because I think we've got a great case to make."
Cameron continued: "I think the job that Andy [Anson] and others and myself are going to have in Zurich is to say to Fifa to look at the bids on their merits.
"To look at the technical aspects, at the stadia, at the fans, at the country, at what England can offer and yes, of course, we have a free media, a democracy, but look at the upsides and the advantages. We just have to make that case."
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