Blatter boosts England´s World Cup bid

FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes England will be a strong contender to host the 2018 World Cup.

England are bidding to stage the tournament for only the second time – and the first since their 1966 triumph – but they face stiff competition, with Australia, the United States, Russia and Japan among the countries who have also declared their interest in hosting the event.

Blatter, the head of football’s global governing body, gave a boost to the English campaign at a news conference here on Wednesday when he admitted he was impressed with their bid.

“I must be neutral. I can say England is a very good contender for the World Cup in 2018,” Blatter said.

“I can not say more. We have eleven contenders for 2018 and 2022. I feel England has a very strong bid.”

There are also two joint bids from Belgium and the Netherlands and Portugal and Spain.

South Korea and Japan shared the tournament in 2002 and, although there has been speculation that FIFA may decide not to repeat that option, Blatter added: “When we had the 2002 World Cup, for political reasons, we had to share.

“It was not one World Cup in two countries, it was two World Cups. Twice the budget and the same income.

“But if one wants to be a single contender, he may be.”

Blatter, who will hold a meeting with European Commission representatives in Brussels later this month, also insisted that the current global financial meltdown has had no major effect on football.

“Football is not too much touched by this economical tsunami,” he said. “But you’ve got to guard against the second wave,” the Swiss added.

Blatter also outlined his belief that young players should not be allowed to play for another country until they have been resident for five years.

He highlighted the case of several Brazilian players who were snapped up by European clubs when they were teenagers before going on to represent their adopted home.

Chelsea star Deco is the most high-profile case. The midfielder was born in Brazil but opted to play for Portugal after joing FC Porto.

“Six weeks ago, we were in Brasilia and we spoke about the 2014 World Cup. The president of the Brazilian (football) federation said ‘please do something to stop the exodus of Brazilian players to Europe’.

“In the year 2018, you could have half the players who would come from one country. And this would be Brazil.

“There should be no international transfers before the age of 18. And you should be five years in the country to become eligible to play for the country, even if you have received nationality in that time.”

Meanwhile, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke admits he is surprised the English Premier League have stopped Manchester United wearing their ‘world champions’ badge.

Blatter presented United with the badge on Wednesday in honour of their triumph at the Club World Cup in December, but the Premier League have rejected their request to wear it in league matches.

They argue that as United qualified for the Club World Cup through the Champions League, that is the tournament in which the badge should be worn.

Yet last year, AC Milan were allowed to wear the badge both in European competition and Serie A.

“We are happy for Manchester United to wear the badge in every game until the next Club World Cup but the Premier League says no,” Valcke said. “AC Milan wore it all the time last year.

“It would seem to make sense for that situation to apply again but unfortunately it will just be in Champions League games.”