I almost composed my article for the result of the 2018 bid as “Modern Football Back Home”, and I believe many media in England had the same idea.
However that type of title never turns up as England lost the 2018 World Cup host to Russia, gaining only two votes at the first round. The next chance for England to host the World Cup will be in 2030, when the world sporting event will go back to Europe.
Massive disappointment across England
Fans of football in England are so disappointed that they almost lost the bid which they think was already in their pocket before the bid was announced, as the England seemed to be enjoying several reasons to believe that it will win.
“After all the politiking, millions of pounds and bringing in the big-guns for the England 2018 bid , we manage TWO votes out of 22! Shocking!” Said a fan named 2yyiam on Twitter.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter announcing the 2018 bid result
Not only general fans, several big names have also joined the team of disappointment.
Prince William, as a member of the bidding team and one of the presenters for England at Zurich today, says, “I’m very disappointed, as are the rest of the team.”
The BBC also reveals that British Prime Minister David Cameron shares his feeling after being defeated, by saying, “I think, according to Fifa, we had the best technical bid, the best commercial bid. No-one could identify any risks coming to England. But it turns out that’s not enough.”
Skepticism on FIFA rises
After the disappointing result was announced by the existing president of FIFA Sepp Blatter, the world football governing body becomes the target to blame at once.
Skepticism on FIFA spreads among demoralised fans.
“FIFA is just a joke.” Says a fan who talks on BBC 5’s evening programme.
Another fan on Radio 5’s programme Phil claims that FIFA is not assessing what they are supposed to assess concerning a World Cup host candidate, by saying, “We have all stadiums here, but they are not interested in it. ”
A fan called Rogan says that FIFA has not considered the football culture that England boasts and that “we have the enthusiasm even before the FIFA was born”.
England 2018 bid chief executive Andy Anson is far from satisfied as England did not even get across the first hurdle, saying that it is “pretty disheartening”, according to the BBC.
He has also criticised FIFA’s decision of announcing two bid results at the same time, saying, “It inevitably led to people with votes in 2018 doing deals with people involved in 2022.”
The media influence
As FIFA has become the largest target of disappointed England fans, the media seems to be less blamed than they were earlier this week after the BBC documentary revealing corruption in FIFA was released on Monday.
Several fans on BBC Radio 5’s evening programme said that it was not all the media’s fault as England lost the bid.
However some fans still believe that it is the media who have at least negatively impacted England’s bid.
“They are irresponsible,” said a fan named Phil. “They can write whatever they want. The timing wasn’t right. “