FIFA have today awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia.
Despite the absence of Premier Vladimir Putin from the bid team in Zurich the Russian’s have beaten England to the biggest sporting event in the world.
David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William led the English charm offensive but there was to be no repeat of 1966 when England won the World Cup on home soil.
Questions are bound to be raised by the suspicious English media who will be caught in two minds as to why Russia won the bid.
A recent Sunday Times expose resulted in two delegates being suspended after being caught in a votes for bribes sting and on Monday night Panorama screened a programme of allegations about FIFA and the bidding process which many feared would be harmful for the English bid.
The BBC are likely to be criticised for not getting behind ‘our boys’ but equally there will be suspicions cast on the Russian bid and how they out foxed England’s finest.
FIFA also announced that the 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar despite the presence of Bill Clinton backing the US bid.
There is some consolation for Cameron, Becks and co with the 2014 Commonwealth Games being staged in Glasgow with Celtic Park hosting the opening and closing ceremonies!