The Tension Builds over World Cup 2018 FIFA Vote tomorrow

Latest News:  Bill Clinton flies into Zurich to support the USA bid for the World Cup Football tournament 2022 which is also been decided on Thursday.  

Last rounds of Lobbying in Zurich today!

Whilst Bill Clinton "The USA's Heavy" flies in, Russian President Vladimir Putin decides to stay away!!  The England "heavies" include a Prince, a Prime Minister and a King (David Beckham).  So how concerned with "sport" are we - or is this just another political joust?

Russian Premier Vladimir Putin said Fifa had been the victim of a smear campaign and should be left to make its decision "in peace and without any outside pressure".

This was probably in response to the BBC Panorama programme on Monday which exposed the corruption behind this type of vote.  Nicolas Leoz, Issa Hayatou and Ricardo Teixeira took the money from a sport marketing firm awarded lucrative World Cup rights, Panorama alleges. 

Mr Hayatou, vice-president of football governing body Fifa, said money that the BBC's Panorama alleged was a bribe was in fact paid to the Confederation of African Football (Caf)  as part of a sponsorship deal with sports marketing firm ISL.

However, although Mr Hayatou now claims a totally innocent reason for the money, the BBC claim that they repeatedly asked Mr Hayatou to give his version of the story and he declined to reply.   Perhaps he thought it would all blow over or that it was unimportant.  If indeed there are innocent and justifiable reasons for the money then why did he allow it to get so far out of hand!

Whilst all the 2018 contenders do their last bit of lobbying those bidding for 2022 are making their presentations.  Australia, the United States, South Korea, Japan and Qatar all made formal presentations with former United States president Bill Clinton backing his nation's bid and former footballing star Frenchman Zinedine Zidane endorsing Qatar's bid due to his Arab ancestry.