Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has criticised England’s 2018 World Cup bid saying he’s disappointed with their lack of progress.
Warner is due to meet with FA chairman Lord Triesman and EPL chief Sir David Richards on Wednesday and the Concacaf chief has paved the way for what could turn out to be a tricky encounter.
Widely regarded as one of the most powerful men in world football, Warner was speaking to Sky Sports and said:
If I were an Englishman today, I would not be happy at the progress that has been made to date.
I don’t think they have progressed as far as I would have liked.
You name it, England have it. But yet they haven’t been able to wow the guys who have to vote for them, then there is something wrong.
England, in the eyes of my colleagues and me, does not have a divine right to host the World Cup.
If I had all these things, I am telling you, any country that wanted a World Cup bid would be far, far behind me. I don’t know why this is not so in England.
I think England are creeping along. It’s better than standing still but I would have thought they would be galloping by now.
I have a private meeting with Lord Triesman and Sir Dave Richards' and if they want my advice I will give it I’m happy to give it to anyone.
I am not being unkind. I have been a Fifa executive committee member for 27 years, I have seen many other bids, and while England has all the attributes to be a worthy host country I am not convinced they are making the most of those attributes.
Spain is doing quite well and some people have even expressed the belief to me that if the vote were taken now they would win. There is of course a long time to go, and many things can change.
