By Mike Rowbottom in Abu Dhabi
February 6 – Sir Bobby Charlton, part of England’s delegation which supported the failed bid for the 2018 World Cup finals in December, has spoken out here against the decision to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar.
Sir Bobby, who is here helping to promote the 12th annual Laureus World Sports Awards, admitted that he had been “surprised” by some of the voting results at the FIFA Executlve Committee meeting in Zurich on December 2.
“This is very, very sensitive,” he said.
“The neutrals were quite surprised that it went to Qatar.
“Every country has the right to contest.
“But it just seemed difficult to see how players would cope with the very harsh weather conditions – it would be really unbelievably difficult.
“But [FIFA President] Sepp Blatter is a powerful man, and he knows some very powerful people.
“So we have to abide by that.
“But I can’t say I’m very happy about it.”
Sir Bobby also hinted that he might play some role in promoting the football competition at the London 2012 Olympics, where he believes the current refusal of the Home Nations other than England to be part of a Great Britain team will eventually be resolved.
“[London 2012 chairman] Seb Coe is a good personal friend, and he has said he is expecting I’ll try to help them, so that’s where we are,” he said.
“Trying to get a Great Britain team together is going to be very interesting.
“I don’t know how they are going to do it – someone there must know.
“But countries like Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are very passionate, they expect to be able to perform in the Olympic Games themselves.
“If they have to play as a British team it’s going to be a hard thing for them to do.
“But they will do it, I’m sure they will be fine.”
The Manchester United director, who will “manage” a team of illustrious former players tomorrow in a football challenge match preceding the main awards ceremony, added that he had faith in United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson to turn things back round in the right direction following last night’s 2-1 defeat at bottom club Wolves.
“That wasn’t a great performance from us,” Sir Bobby said.
“But Alex is a genius, and we are happy that by the end of the season everything will be put right.
“We weren’t really pleased about what happened at Wolves, but uncertainty is what makes football such a fascinating game. I wish Wolves luck in trying to stay in the Premier League.”
Asked if he felt the current trend for Premier League clubs to be bought up by wealthy foreign owners could be dangerous to the long-term benefits of football in England, Charlton responded: “I can only speak for my own club.
“We have American sponsors, but they don’t interfere with the club.
“They own it, but they don’t interfere with the running of it.”
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