January 7 – England and other nations bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will not be permitted to make presentations to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later this month after Qatar signed an exclusive sponsorship deal, it was revealed today.
But England bid leaders are not among the bidding countries who have raised the matter with world governing body FIFA because they believe that they already have strong links in Africa, having made several visits to the continent recently to gather support.
An email from the CAF general secretary’s office to bidding nations reads: “Kindly note that… CAF has signed an exclusive sponsorship agreement with Qatar 2022 for the CAF Congress 2010, which as a consequence means that no other bidding nations for the FIFA World Cup will be allowed to make any presentations at the Congress which will be held on January 29.
“However, your delegation and representatives will be allowed to attend as ‘observers’, but without the possibility to organise press conferences, distribute any promotional material or erect stands to that effect within the venue and its vicinity on that day.
“If you wish to promote the bid prior to or after that date it would be possible, and mechanics would have to be studied.”
England 2018 are still planning to have a presence at the African Nations Cup, which kicks off in Angola on Sunday.
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