Australia's bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup

[Jesus]

I think they mean building another stadium at homebush.

ANZ is defintely on the list.

Indeed without ANZ we do not reach the requirements

 

[adz]

Qatar playing dirty:

http://www.qatar2022bid.com/lognew/?post=27

check comments at bottom of page

And Adz's post on the Qatar Bid site is the Post Of the Week!:

6. adz
05 May 2010 08:30
I don't know where Qatar is, but I do like playing Qatar Hero on PS3. All the best with your bid.

Someone did a better one:

11. Andrew Demetriou
09 May 2010 15:19

Go Qatar! You have my full support!

I rofl'd

 

[midfielder]

All 750 pages of our bid has been delivered ...

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/frank-lowy-hands-australias-world-cup-bid-to-fifa-20100514-v49l.html

ZURICH: Bid chief Frank Lowy was hopeful there'd be talk of the lucky country once again as Australia kicked off presentations from nine candidates to host the 2018 or 2022 soccer World Cup.

Australia delivered its bid to FIFA president Sepp Blatter, handing over a 750-page book detailing how it would stage the world's biggest sporting event.

"It is now the kick off," Blatter told the Australian delegation.

Four bidders from Europe, four from the Asian confederation plus the United States were set to file through in alphabetical order to present their technical documents.

Australia was followed by an England bid team fronted by David Beckham.

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy said he recognised it was a difficult contest.

"We hope and pray that we might be the lucky country," said Lowy, a billionaire businessman who is leading the bid.

"We are proud to present to FIFA our bid documents, highlighting a technically brilliant bid supported by unified government funding and commitment at all levels," Lowy said.

"Our nationwide hosting proposal means millions of sports fans across Australia will be able to enjoy the biggest and most exciting sporting event in the world in wonderful new or upgraded stadiums in their own cities. Europe is favoured to be given the 2018 finals, with England and Russia competing against joint bids from Netherlands-Belgium and Spain-Portugal. All four are also in the 2022 race but would be barred if one gets the 2018 tournament.

Australia and the US also are in both contests with the latter expected to be a more realistic chance of success.

Japan, Qatar and South Korea have focused solely on 2022, believing Europe is a lock for 2018 because the 2010 tournament is in South Africa and Brazil hosts in 2014.

Each bid book explains how the monthlong, 64-match tournament would be organised, with details of at least 12 stadiums, plus training camps, hotels, security protocols, IT and medical support, and fans' entertainment.

Candidates must also give FIFA copies of government guarantees, contracts with each city and venue, and details of finance and insurance cover.

FIFA officials will use the bid books as the basis for technical inspections of each candidate between July and September.

FIFA's 24 executive members will choose the two hosts on December 2 in Zurich.

Five of the current bidders have previously staged a World Cup: England (1966), Spain (1982), US (1994), and Japan and South Korea (co-hosted 2002).

Five nations - Brazil (1950 & 2014), France (1938 & 1998), Germany (1974 & 2006), Italy (1934 & 1990) and Mexico (1970 & 1986) - have been awarded two World Cups.

 

[dibo]

Pics of stadia from the bid site:

http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/australias-bid_stadiums.aspx

Stadium Australia - Sydney

Sydney Football Stadium

Blacktown Stadium

MCG

Suncorp Stadium

Perth Stadium

Adelaide Oval

Gold Coast Stadium

Newcastle Stadium

Canberra Stadium

Geelong Stadium

Townsville Stadium

Stadium, Host City, Capacity, Construction
Stadium Australia, Sydney, 83,000, Minor Upgrade
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, 41,000, Minor Upgrade
Blacktown Stadium, Sydney, 41,000, New Stadium
MCG, Melbourne, 88,000, Existing Stadium
Brisbane Stadium , Brisbane, 50,000, Existing Stadium
Perth Stadium, Perth, 60,000, New Stadium
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 48,000, Major Upgrade
Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast, 40,000, Major Upgrade
Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, 42,000, Major Upgrade
Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 40,000, New Stadium
Geelong Stadium, Geelong, 44,000, Major Upgrade
Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 40,000, Major Upgrade

 

[midfielder]

The bid ....home page

http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/

 

[midfielder]

Mikes on the money ...

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/our-world-cup-fields-of-dreams-will-help-all-codes-20100514-v4f4.html

Our World Cup fields of dreams will help all codes
MICHAEL COCKERILL
May 15, 2010

A new $270 million rectangular stadium at Blacktown is football's big win from the World Cup bid, unveiled at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland early this morning.

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy presented Australia's official bid book for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cups to his FIFA counterpart, Sepp Blatter, as the jockeying among the nine other competing nations entered the home straight. FIFA will make its decision in December, with the European candidates (England, Spain/Portugal, Netherlands/Belgium and Russia) widely favoured to host the tournament in 2018 - leaving Australia to compete with the United States, Japan, South Korea and Qatar for the 2022 event.

Lowy, who has made winning the World Cup bid the last great mission of his life, said last night the completion of the documentation was an exciting milestone in Australia's history


'We're proud to be presenting to FIFA bid documents that highlight a technically brilliant bid supported by unified government funding and commitment at all levels,'' Lowy said.

''This nationwide hosting proposal means millions of sports fans across the country will be able to enjoy the biggest and most exciting sporting event in the world in wonderful new or upgraded stadiums in their own cities. The infrastructure investment will leave a legacy to all sporting codes in the nation for generations to come.''

The leather-bound, 750-page bid book contains all conceptual and technical aspects of a bid which PricewaterhouseCoopers last year estimated was worth a net benefit of $345 million to the nation. Apart from that, the FFA itself - historically the most cash-strapped organisation among the four football codes - is estimated to be in line for a $300m windfall should the bid be successful.

The centrepiece of the bid is a $2.8 billion stadium development program that would include 12 venues in all states and territories except Tasmania and Northern Territory. Three new stadiums could be built and nine others upgraded and improved should Australia win World Cup hosting rights. The stadiums were selected following an assessment process involving industry experts in the areas of sports architecture, engineering, cost planning, security, transport and environment.

The new stadiums would include a 60,000-seat stadium in the Subiaco precinct in Perth, a 40,000-seat stadium near the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and a 41,000-seat stadium at Blacktown's Olympic Park precinct, directly opposite the AFL site. The stadiums to be upgraded and have their capacity either permanently or temporarily increased include Sydney Football Stadium, the MCG, ANZ Stadium, Suncorp Stadium, Adelaide Oval and venues in Geelong, Townsville, Gold Coast and Newcastle.

With the AFL gaining an enormous benefit from the infrastructure spending - notably in Geelong, Perth and Adelaide - the new stadium at Blacktown looms as football's biggest legacy. It's understood the Greater Western Sydney AFL side is resigned to spending $30m to upgrade Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay as its home ground. With no NRL side in the vicinity, the Blacktown venue is likely to fall into the lap of A-League newcomers Sydney Rovers, who join the competition next year.

While the Blacktown stadium is unlikely to be built for another five years at the earliest if Australia's bid is successful, its post-World Cup capacity of 26,000 is ideal for the A-League team. Sydney Rovers chairman Ian Rowden said last night the new venue would be ''a great legacy for football in its heartland of western Sydney''.

''A purpose-built stadium is what football really needs and we'd certainly love to play there,'' he said. ''I'm very excited by this.''

 

[midfielder]

The bid ....home page

http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/

You can sign on to support the bid at the bottom of the Home Page.

 

[midfielder]

Mike a good writer...I hope now its all signed that BB & Obi Wan give a little back... also hope FIFA go with 10 stadiums and ignore Geelong & Gold Coast...

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/ungracious-under-pressure-demetriou-needs-to-be-put-in-his-place-20100514-v4f6.html

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football...0514-v4f6.html
Ungracious under pressure, Demetriou needs to be put in his place
MICHAEL COCKERILL
May 15, 2010


Australia's World Cup stadiums look fantastic and probably will be. Evenly spread across the nation - only Tasmania and Northern Territory miss out - and sure to be filled to the brim if Frank Lowy's legendary powers of persuasion win the votes that count in Zurich at the end of the year.

It was in the Swiss financial capital that Lowy presented the official bid book to FIFA boss Sepp Blatter yesterday. It's a book with a tale of its own, so tortuous have been the negotiations with two tiers of government and the other three football codes. Actually, make that one. Rugby league and rugby union have, by and large, got into the spirit of the occasion. Supportive in deeds as much as words. Hats off to John O'Neill and David Gallop for thinking big, not small.

Which brings us to the AFL. Perhaps the biggest surprise at yesterday's presentation at FIFA House was that Andrew Demetriou wasn't part of the official FFA party. So well has the belligerent AFL boss run the agenda that he's entitled to believe he has contributed as much as anyone else.

Which he has. From day one, Demetriou has been white-anting the bid. From day one, through his various media acolytes, he's been able to steer public opinion. From day one, he's put pressure - both public and private - on those politicians who might, just might, have sided with the argument that one of the most important factors in Australia hosting the World Cup is a legacy to the game that delivered it.

Demetriou has thrown his weight around and it's worked. Guess who's the big winner from the bid book as it stands? The AFL. It's like taking candy from a baby. In 2000, the AFL got millions of dollars in improvements for the Gabba and some notable upgrades at the MCG thanks to the football competition. Now they've done even better. Much better.

Depending on your arithmetic, there will be between $2.5 billion and $3 billion spent on stadium infrastructure if Australia gets the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. Of the 12 stadiums, five are fundamentally for the AFL. Brand new stadiums in Perth and massively improved stadiums in Adelaide, Geelong and Gold Coast, and a lick of paint for the venerable MCG. Not a bad dividend for a sport that is only played in Australia and on an oval, not a rectangle.

Given Australia's diverse sporting landscape, multi-use venues are not a problem in themselves. Not perfect, but not necessarily bad. The trouble is the AFL don't know how to share. Not only do they get the bricks and mortar, they then screw any other leasees to the ground. You'd think having won the argument, Demetriou might be gracious or at least modest. But no. There he was last week, in big, bold headlines, claiming it if hadn't been for the AFL's generosity of spirit, the bid would have been doomed. Incredible.

But perhaps the piece de resistance is in the fine print. A demand for compensation for having to move fixtures to smaller grounds or regional centres. Games which will, in all likelihood, have to be shifted in 12 years' time.

The AFL is rich. The FFA is close to broke. The estimated $300 million that football will get from hosting the World Cup is the equivalent of two years worth of TV money for the AFL. But Demetriou wants his cut of that as well.

Up until now, the FFA has stayed mute in the face of Demetriou's relentless onslaught. So far he's played his old mate Ben Buckley off a break. Hopefully not for much longer. Having handed over the bid book, the FFA is no longer beholden to anyone. The time has come for the empire to strike back.

Australia will host a magnificent World Cup, if given the chance. But so will many of the alternatives. The FFA's most compelling argument to FIFA is that hosting the World Cup is a game-changer for the sport. Not a lifesaver because football will evolve regardless. But it will fundamentally change the dynamic and that's what a bully-boy like Demetriou is afraid of. Sooner or later, he needs to be put in his place.

 

[marinermick]

Slightly misleading. The NRL and Union get their fair share of infrastructure as well - new grounds in Canberra and Western Sydney and huge upgrades of Newcastle, Perth and Townsville.

 

[nikko]

...
But for the AFL to want all cost paid to them plus 100 million for the MCG for ten weeks is beyond greedy...plus now it appears holding off signing the MCG over unless the Blacktown stadium is in an oval shape and the bid is due in next Thursday...

Where did you get all that from?? You should think about working for the Terrorgraph!

the new Danny Weilder?

 

[midfielder]

Slightly misleading. The NRL and Union get their fair share of infrastructure as well - new grounds in Canberra and Western Sydney and huge upgrades of Newcastle, Perth and Townsville.

Maybe .. but Canberra has no head lease right now and part of the deal with the ACT gov is a A-League team will play out of Canberra and be backed and funded by the ACT gov .. meaning I guess that the A-League would control the ground.... Newcastle i am lead to believe will require a new leasing structure which should provide the Scum with a very much improved deal than they currently enjoy... also North Qld will get and much more favorable lease than they currently have...Also in WS Blacktown will be controlled by the Rovers giving Football control of two stadiums in Canberra & Blacktown.

RU gets stuff all ...

The tragedy of it all is in the southern states where there are no rectangle stadiums for any code to use ... non will be built ... Perth for heavens sake the Union teams gets about 25, 000 to games but have been screaming for a new ground as the oval one is effecting there crowds... RL are also going to Perth...

Melbourne who holds itself to be the sporting capital of the world.... a 31, 000 rectangle stadium ... RU & Football would love a purpose built 50 K plus stadiums to bring in some internationals and their playing strength against the AFL.... but will never be...

It is not the same in the Northern States... SGC recently done up ... Gabba, and the new Gold Coast stadium ... all excellent stadiums...

I admire the AFL for the skill they have shown in using what they have to get what they want and more ... but we have Hindmarsh and Perths home ground... in the southern states ... not that good ... I agree with Mike...

 

[curious]

   

Maybe .. but Canberra has no head lease right now and part of the deal with the ACT gov is a A-League team will play out of Canberra and be backed and funded by the ACT gov .. meaning I guess that the A-League would control the ground

And why do you guess that? The ground will be a shared ground by 3 codes and managed by the owners of the management rights (the entity that pay the millions to buy them) Good God man, Canberra aren't even in the aleague, we don't know when or if, and you have them 'controlling' a brand new stadium already?

Newcastle i am lead to believe will require a new leasing structure which should provide the Scum with a very much improved deal than they currently enjoy

They get cheap as chips rental as it is and he hasn't been permitted a lease of any description for years, nor will he ever be by anyone.  He gets what anyone gets that have a habit of not paying their debts, including rent, and cannot be trusted with credit.  A week by week rental. It's irrelevant however, with the new stadium being finished in 12 months, regardless of a WC.

also North Qld will get and much more favorable lease than they currently have.

Why would they, and have you any idea of their existing agreement? Cowboys will benefit very well indeed from a new stadium and likely much more than NQF (if they still exist) unless their crowds triple to that of the Cowboys.

RU gets stuff all ...

Brumbies get to use any new stadium they choose in Canberra. Waratahs will use SFS or ANZ, or both and Reds will use Suncorp. The Wallabies will use the biggest and the best of all the stadiums, regardless of oval or rectangle, like they always have.
So, RU does rather well, actually.

RL won't be unhappy either with SFS, ANZ, Suncorp, Canberra and Townsville all to gain upgrades/redevelopments and all NRL home grounds.

Cockadoodle's silly class war argument of "they are rich, we are poor, so get out the tissues and feel sorry for us and damn the nasty rich to hell' is quite pathetic and as
dumb as as a fumbling Forster furphy. He really isn't a very smart man. Nope, I don't like the long skinny twerp. The nerd's nerd. The quintessential sookie boy. 

 

[midfielder]

   

Maybe .. but Canberra has no head lease right now and part of the deal with the ACT gov is a A-League team will play out of Canberra and be backed and funded by the ACT gov .. meaning I guess that the A-League would control the ground

And why do you guess that? The ground will be a shared ground by 3 codes and managed by the owners of the management rights (the entity that pay the millions to buy them) Good God man, Canberra aren't even in the aleague, we don't know when or if, and you have them 'controlling' a brand new stadium already?

Newcastle i am lead to believe will require a new leasing structure which should provide the Scum with a very much improved deal than they currently enjoy

They get cheap as chips rental as it is and he hasn't been permitted a lease of any description for years, nor will he ever be by anyone.  He gets what anyone gets that have a habit of not paying their debts, including rent, and cannot be trusted with credit.  A week by week rental. It's irrelevant however, with the new stadium being finished in 12 months, regardless of a WC.

also North Qld will get and much more favorable lease than they currently have.

Why would they, and have you any idea of their existing agreement? Cowboys will benefit very well indeed from a new stadium and likely much more than NQF (if they still exist) unless their crowds triple to that of the Cowboys.

RU gets stuff all ...

Brumbies get to use any new stadium they choose in Canberra. Waratahs will use SFS or ANZ, or both and Reds will use Suncorp. The Wallabies will use the biggest and the best of all the stadiums, regardless of oval or rectangle, like they always have.
So, RU does rather well, actually.

RL won't be unhappy either with SFS, ANZ, Suncorp, Canberra and Townsville all to gain upgrades/redevelopments and all NRL home grounds.

Taking your points one at a time... The ACT Gov has said unless they get an A-League team they will not build the stadium... additionally the ACT gov are the backer of the A-League team and have guaranteed to put in considerable dollars each year... so I guessed Football would be offered a very good lease deal... but yes I could be wrong... and yes RU & RL can also use it...but that the ACT gov are building it for Football and will financially support the A-League team my guess is they will get a good deal..

Big statement you make about Con getting a great deal ... my understanding is he does not ... I am not trying to defend Con in any way and it is my dear hope that he leave the A-League but that he is getting a deal close to the knights is wrong according to a number of locals I have spoken to from both codes...

The north QLD ... just some media talk that said a new lease agreement would be draw up which would be more favorable than the current lease.... please don't ask me to find it as it was some months ago and part of a larger article...

RU will get choose of stadiums ... OK OK OK OK all codes on a rectangle field will share equally in having better grounds ...  RU already has access to SFS & ANZ ..

Correct about RL & SFS, ANZ, Suncorp, Canberra and Townsville, but Football use these grounds as well...

Curious my point is not that NSW & QLD RL & RU have not done well, it is worth noting we will share all these grounds with RL & RU .. in fact North Queensland, Roar, Fold Coast, Newcastle, SFC, MV & Hearts and soon Mariners all share a common ground with the NRL... and Canberra as well, with all codes using Homebush.

My point was in the Southern States there will be no rectangle stadiums of any size, in Perth where the three codes play with RL on its way back soon... and in Adelaide.. with Melbourne having only a 31, 000 K stadium... thus no major internationals by either RU, or Football..this does protect AFL a lot...

Remember 47 % of Australians live in Vic, SA, WA, Tas & NT... with no football stadiums of any size...

 

[curious]

with Melbourne having only a 31, 000 K stadium... thus no major internationals by either RU, or Football..this does protect AFL a lot...

Melbourne don't have major internationals in RU and As. football? They don't also have RL's biggest games, the SOO? I'd bet my left testicle that both the nrl and super15 teams in Melbourne are over the moon about gaining a new 31k home ground and don't give a shite about moving big games like semi's, GF's, tests ect. to Athiad or the MCG and I don't think they'll cry themselves asleep about the shape of the ground.

 

[midfielder]

with Melbourne having only a 31, 000 K stadium... thus no major internationals by either RU, or Football..this does protect AFL a lot...

Melbourne don't have major internationals in RU and As. football? They don't also have RL's biggest games, the SOO? I'd bet my left testicle that both the nrl and super15 teams in Melbourne are over the moon about gaining a new 31k home ground and don't give a shite about moving big games like semi's, GF's, tests ect. to Athiad or the MCG and I don't think they'll cry themselves asleep about the shape of the ground.

OK we have a difference of opinion then about Melbourne ... A RU match against a top overseas side in Melbourne would draw a big crowd ... as would a top Socceroo match... Also RL is considering an annual six nations ... with Australia & NZ seeded in two groups against 4 island nations... RL is also starting to look at international matches as well...

With a 31, 000 K ground ... NSW & QLD Stadiums will more than likely get the top RU & Socceroo matches..... and that is IMO quite sad... and it is difficult to see any going to Perth or Adelaide which is even sadder... 

 

[midfielder]

HHHHHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmm What chance that FFA on Thursday release their bid for the WC ... Sunday Ch 7 do a thing about the Soccer WC in SA and that it is the most dangerous country in the world ... just like the ones they did  for the cricket ERRRRRR sorry there were none for the cricket ..RRRR it was pure chance.. or is it a case of nobody screws soccer like 7 ? ? ? ?

 

[curious]

with Melbourne having only a 31, 000 K stadium... thus no major internationals by either RU, or Football..this does protect AFL a lot...

Melbourne don't have major internationals in RU and As. football? They don't also have RL's biggest games, the SOO? I'd bet my left testicle that both the nrl and super15 teams in Melbourne are over the moon about gaining a new 31k home ground and don't give a shite about moving big games like semi's, GF's, tests ect. to Athiad or the MCG and I don't think they'll cry themselves asleep about the shape of the ground.

OK we have a difference of opinion then about Melbourne ... A RU match against a top overseas side in Melbourne would draw a big crowd ... as would a top Socceroo match... Also RL is considering an annual six nations ... with Australia & NZ seeded in two groups against 4 island nations... RL is also starting to look at international matches as well...

With a 31, 000 K ground ... NSW & QLD Stadiums will more than likely get the top RU & Socceroo matches..... and that is IMO quite sad... and it is difficult to see any going to Perth or Adelaide which is even sadder... 

That was my point. RU & RL don't give a rats if it's oval, rectangle or any shape in between. It's not an issue. It hasn't stopped them playing on cricket ovals for the last hundred years and won't stop them in the future. And how it will prevent Socceroo matches from being held and strongly supported in Melbourne at Ethiad and the MCG, I don't know. What's changed? Having a new 31k rectangle stadium 'now' precludes matches being played elsewhere? It didn't prevent it before the new stadium was built, how will stop it now? They'd flock to most sport in better numbers than anywhere else if it was held in the back paddock.

 

[Jesus]

I have not seen anything recently to suggest that the cnaberra stadium is linked to a canberra a-league team.

I remember one minister saying if we dont get a team we should not build a stadium and should instead try and get alf matches and RL. That is a big jump to an agreement?

I dont think RL/RU currently need something bigger that the bubble, so are not too worried.

Am hopeful that the 1st 2 to get the chop if we succeed are GC and geelong which have no benefit for football.

 

[midfielder]

Poms trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory...

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/englands-world-cup-bid-chairman-resigns-over-bribe-claims-20100517-v6wh.html

England's World Cup bid chairman resigns over bribe claims
May 17, 2010 - 9:41AM

England's World Cup bid chairman resigns over bribe claims

LONDON: England's campaign to host the 2018 World Cup suffered a major blow on Sunday when Lord David Triesman quit as head of the bid team following claims he had accused Spain and Russia of bribery.

Triesman, 66, also stepped down as president of the English Football Association after a hastily-arranged meeting with the FA board at Wembley.

The meeting was called in the wake of allegations made in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, which suggested Triesman told a former aide, Melissa Jacobs, that Spain could drop its 2018 bid if rival bidder Russia helped bribe referees at this summer's World Cup.

Jacobs revealed to the Mail on Sunday that Triesman - who on Saturday sat beside Prince William at the FA Cup final which Chelsea won 1-0 against Portsmouth - had confided in her his fears over the Spain/Russia partnership, a conversation that she tape recorded.

"There's some evidence that the Spanish football authorities are trying to identify the referees....and pay them," said Triesman.

Triesman then related to Jacobs - who had the conversation with him after she said she ended their relationship because she was uncomfortable having an affair with a married man, a relationship that Triesman denies - how he thought the bid was progressing in terms of votes.

"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."

Jacobs, a 37-year-old civil servant who was employed by 66-year-old Triesman when he was a Minister at the Department for Innovation, Univesities and Skills, then claims that she asked Triesman if Russia would help Spain in bribing referees.

"Oh, I think Russia will cut deals," replied Triesman, saying that Russia would do so because they had nothing to lose as their team failed to reach the finals.

The England 2018 World Cup bid team faxed letters of apology to the Spanish and Russian associations as they attempted to minimise the damage caused.

"I have decided to resign as chairman of the FA and the 2018 bid board," Triesman said in a statement.

"A private conversation with someone whom I thought to be a friend was taped without my knowledge and passed to a national newspaper. That same friend has also chosen to greatly exaggerate the extent of our friendship.

"In that conversation I commented on speculation circulating about conspiracies around the world. Those comments were never intended to be taken seriously as indeed is the case with many private conversations.

"The views expressed were not the views of the 2018 bid board or the FA.

"Nobody should be under any misapprehension that the FA or 2018 bid board are disrespectful of other nations or FIFA and I regret any such inference that may have been drawn from what has been reported.

"Entrapment, especially by a friend, is an unpleasant experience both for my family and me but it leaves me with no alternative but to resign. I have immediately informed the FA board of my decision."

FA board members David Sheepshanks and Roger Burden have been drafted in as acting joint chairmen of the FA, while Geoff Thompson was later on Sunday named as the new head of the World Cup bid.

Sunday's controversy comes just two days after Triesman, accompanied by David Beckham, handed over England's bid book for the 2018 World Cup to FIFA chief Sepp Blatter in Zurich.

England staged the World Cup for the first and only time in 1966, which was also the only occasion they had lifted the trophy.

The chief of Russia's bid, Aleksey Sorokin, has called for football's governing body to "take appropriate measures".

"It is a sign that we are going in the right direction, that the quality of our bid leaves no other alternative for our competitors but to bring up these absurd allegations," Sorokin told Sky Sports News.

When asked if they would take up the matter with FIFA, he added: "We haven't had that discussion, we hope that FIFA will take appropriate measures itself without our motions."

The FA bid enjoys support from the Premier League and Prime Minister David Cameron and new Sports Minister Hugh Robertson this morning welcomed reports that Triesman was to be stood down.

"It's entirely right that he should stand down and that the action should have been taken as quickly as is the case," he told Sky Sports News.

England, Russia, joint Spanish-Portuguese and Dutch-Belgian bids, Australia and the United States are the countries in contention for the World Cup in 2018.

 

[midfielder]

Makes me jealous of the AFL management & Influence ... 75 million plus for GWS team (30 M Blacktown 45 m Homebush) plus the value of the stadium that is already there ... I wonder how much for the Rovers who have in WS o100, 000 registered players... and remember the no rectangle in the Souther States except the new 31, 000 AMMI for all three codes...

I wonder will the RES get compensation for the lost of it main stadium

link http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/m-to-build-ground-for-greater-western-sydney/story-e6frg7mf-1225867938889

THE division of NSW's AFL notional tribes will soon be complete, with the state government set to announce it will subsidise a redevelopment of the Sydney Showground, a move that will free the Swans from the code's commitment to the adjacent ANZ Stadium.

The Australian understands the AFL, the state government and the new Greater Western Sydney club will make an announcement next week.

Under the agreed terms, the government will put in an estimated $45 million to convert the showground into an AFL stadium for the GWS, which is due to enter the competition in 2012.

The showground is part of the Homebush Olympic precinct which also contains ANZ Stadium, but the two venues are run by separate bodies.

GWS and the AFL are reluctant to schedule anything but blockbuster matches at ANZ for fear the small crowds in an 81,000-seat venue will be bad publicity for the start-up club.

The new showground stadium will seat about 30,000 fans.



GWS will play nine matches at the showground and will take over the three matches the AFL is contractually obliged to play at ANZ Stadium as part of the arrangement that effectively divides Sydney in two.

The Swans have played three games a year at ANZ as part of the deal, but this has never sat well with its eastern suburbs members, and the matches have struggled to attract fans.

The showground is 26km to the east of the GWS practice facilities at Blacktown Olympic Park, but still 20km west of the Swans' home base at the SCG.

It is understood the AFL is keen to tap into Sydney's Hills District, which is closer to ANZ than Bankstown and contains a demographic identified by the code as a potential fan base.

The AFL convinced Blacktown council and the state government to invest $30m on the practice facility for the GWS, which has only a 10,000-seat stadium and is unsuitable for games.

GWS chief executive Dale Holmes has promised an announcement on a home ground before the end of the year. The AFL has dealt with three NSW premiers in trying to have the showground converted into a base for its western Sydney push.

The project appeared to suffer a terminal blow in November when then-premier Nathan Rees announced he was abandoning plans to inject money into the redevelopment.

"We're not about to give that sort of money to the AFL for a stadium next to an existing stadium," he said.

"I'd much rather spend the money on hospitals and schools."

Rees buckled after a campaign by the Daily Terrorgraph and rugby league fans against taxpayer money being spent on a "foreign" code.

The AFL has boasted it has a $200m war chest to support the GWS project, which is in rugby league heartland.

League bosses have rallied against any state government investment in a rival code.