England’s World Cup Bid In Chaos As Lord Triesman, Bid Chairman, Resigns

One day after reports of making allegations that Spain and Russia were planning to bribe officials at this summer’s World Cup, the chairman of England’s 2018 World Cup bid has resigned from his position, throwing England’s World Cup bid into temporary turmoil.

Lord Triesman told his former mistress Melissa Jacobs, who shared his thoughts with the Mail on Sunday, that Spanish officials were getting help from Russia in bribing referees at this summer’s World Cup. In return, Spain would drop its bid for the 2018 World Cup which, according to Triesman, could free votes from Latin and Central America to move from Spain to Russia.

Triesman and England’s Football Association had lost an attempt to block the publication of Triesman’s allegations. Instead, Triesman has resigned his role as chairman of the 2018 bid committee, though he still holds the same position with the Football Association.

Jacobs, a 37-year-old civil servant who was under the employ of Triesman when the Labour Party-man was a Minister at the Department for Innovation, Univesities and Skills, recorded an hour-long conversation detailing the accusations.

In that conversation, Triesman detailed how he feared the voting process could work:

”I think the Africans we are doing very well with. I think we’re doing kind of well with some of the Asians.

“Probably doing well with Central and North America. My assumption is that the Latin Americans, although they have not said so, will vote for Spain. And if Spain drop out, because Spain are looking for help from the Russians to help bribe the referees in the World Cup, their votes may then switch to Russia.”

Such allegations were seem as potentially scuttling England’s chances to get the 2018 finals. The English bid team has faxed letters of apology to Spain and Russia, with Triesman stepping down this morning.

Neither Spain nor Russia have commented on the story, and it is unclear how the news will affect England’s chances to host their first World Cup since 1966. However, the swift resignation of Triesman, as well as comments from the nation’s new government, show England’s concern that the controversy will negatively impact their ability to win the finals.

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson, just appointed under England’s new government, said Triesman had no choice:

“Its absolutely the right decision to take,” he told the BBC.

”Our top priority as a new government is to win this bid for the country and I am delighted that they (the bid team) have acted as quickly and decisively as they have done.

“All is not lost, we would rather we weren’t dealing with the situation but it is better that it has happened now, so soon after handing over the bid book, rather than two to three months out,” added the 47-year-old.

This story breaks two days after an English delegation led by David Beckham and Triesman handed the team’s bid book to FIFA officials in Zürich.