Capello: 2018 bid not hurt by Triesman
FABIO CAPELLO insists England remain the “perfect” hosts for the 2018 World Cup despite the controversy surrounding Lord Triesman.
Triesman resigned as chairman of the bid – and indeed from the Football Association – on Sunday after he accused rival bidders Spain and Russia of conspiring to bribe referees at this summer’s showpiece.
World governing Fifa have vowed to investigate Triesman’s claims, but Capello, talking from England’s pre-World Cup training base in Austria, insists it should not tarnish the nation’s 2018 bid.
“England is the perfect place to play the World Cup because the facilities, the stadiums and the transport are all really, really, good,” the Italian said. “I think the chance to win the bid for the World Cup in 2018 will be the same as I think the people who have to decide probably will understand what has happened.”
Of Lord Triesman’s comments, Capello added: “My relationship with Lord Triesman was really good. I am sorry for what happened but now we are focused on what happens here.”
Capello’s views were shared by captain Rio Ferdinand, who says the bid will survive Lord Triesman’s comments. “The bid’s bigger than any one individual. People come and go in the process but we’d still stage a great World Cup,” Ferdinand said.
“I think this country has got all the tools to hold a tournament of that ilk. We will be great hosts.”
Both are supported by Lord Coe – mastermind of London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and a board member for the 2018 bid – who believes the matter will be forgiven and forgotten in time. He added: “I don’t think anybody in the world, including Fifa, doubts we have anything other than a great ability to deliver a fantastic World Cup. This does not become a bad bid overnight.
“I understand campaigns. We were bidding to stage an Olympic Games for the best part of three years. Campaigns are marathons, not sprints. There’s rarely anything that is so serious or so great that you are permanently derailed or you jump across the line in one fell swoop.”