Andy Burnham Criticizes UK’s World Cup Hosting History as “Insane”
Andy Burnham has expressed it is “insane” that the UK has only hosted a single World Cup, accusing Fifa and Uefa of conspiring against the home nations.
The Prime Minister raised questions about whether the governing bodies had “something against us,” noting that the UK has not hosted the World Cup since 1966.
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Mr. Burnham recalled his role in England’s failed 2010 bid for the 2018 World Cup, which ultimately went to Russia.
The bidding process was mired in controversy and eventually led to the downfall of then-Fifa president Sepp Blatter and other high-ranking officials.
England’s bid received only two votes from the 22 members of the Fifa executive committee, amid allegations of bribery.
Andy Burnham, pictured during a football match between Labour Party members and journalists in 2016, is an Everton fan (Danny Lawson/PA)
Mr. Blatter’s successor, Gianni Infantino, currently faces criticism for plans to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.
Burnham, an Everton supporter, made these comments while appearing on the Away Days podcast, where he reviewed classic Everton, England, and Liverpool jerseys.
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Having served as culture, media, and sports secretary leading up to the World Cup bid, he was part of Gordon Brown’s cabinet.
During the podcast, host Ellis Platten remarked, “The fact we’ve only ever hosted one World Cup in Britain is insane to me.” Burnham responded, “Definitely. I don’t know; it makes you wonder if the authorities at the European and global level have something against us, I don’t know.
“The country that invented the game, you’d think we would have had a bit more of that attention. I have been part of governments that have tried to bring the World Cup here; it’s just the voting.
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“Let’s be honest; some of the practices within football haven’t supported even-handed decision-making. I’m being diplomatic here, but it’s not good, is it?”
Despite not having hosted the World Cup for 60 years, the UK has held matches at the men’s European Championships twice, with upcoming matches of the 2028 tournament scheduled to take place in the UK and Ireland.
Furthermore, the UK will welcome the women’s World Cup in 2035 and previously hosted the 2005 and 2022 women’s European Championships, with the latter seeing England’s women claim their first tournament victory on home soil.
Since taking office, Mr Burnham has called for Mr Infantino to resign, criticizing him for being the “wrong man” to lead Fifa due to his failed attempt to sell off World Cup stakes to private investors.
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He commented to journalists, “I do not believe that he is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage.
“The plan that was put forward was offensive to many people, football people, around the world, and it can’t be the case that we just move on and forget that. It wasn’t acceptable.”
Andy Burnham has said it “insane” that the UK has hosted only one World Cup, accusing Fifa and Uefa of conspiring against the home nations.
The Prime Minister questioned if the organisations had “something against us”, with the UK not hosting the World Cup since 1966.
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Mr Burnham referenced his involvement in England‘s doomed 2010 bid for the 2018 World Cup, which was awarded to Russia.
The controversy around that process, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup, eventually unseated then-Fifa president Sepp Blatter and other senior officials.
England’s bid only received two votes from 22 members of the Fifa executive committee, amid claims of bribery.
Andy Burnham, pictured during a football match between Labour Party members and journalists in 2016, is an Everton fan (Danny Lawson/PA)
Mr Blatter’s replacement, Gianni Infantino, is currently under fire for proposals to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.
Mr Burnham, an Everton fan, was speaking to the Away Days podcast, which showed him looking through classic Everton, England and Liverpool shirts.
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He had been culture, media and sports secretary in the run-up to the World Cup bid being submitted, when he was part of Gordon Brown’s cabinet.
The podcast’s host, Ellis Platten, said to the Prime Minister: “The fact we’ve only ever hosted one World Cup in Britain is insane to me.”
Mr Burnham replied: “Definitely. I don’t know, it makes you wonder whether the authorities at the European and global level have something against us, I don’t know.
“The country that invented the game, you know, you’d think we would have had a bit more of that attention. I have been part of Governments that have tried to bring the World Cup here, it’s just the voting.
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“Let’s be honest, some of the practices within football haven’t supported even-handed decision-making. I’m being diplomatic here, but it’s not good, is it?”
Despite not hosting the World Cup for 60 years, the UK has hosted games at the men’s European Championships twice and fixtures at the 2028 tournament will be played in the UK and Ireland.
Meanwhile, the UK will host the women’s World Cup in 2035. It hosted the 2005 and 2022 women’s European Championships. The latter saw England’s women win the tournament for the first time on home soil.
Since entering Downing Street himself, Mr Burnham has called for Mr Infantino to resign, saying he is the “wrong man” to lead Fifa over his bungled attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
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He told journalists: “I do not believe that he is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage.
“The plan that was put forward was offensive to many people, football people, around the world, and it can’t be the case that we just move on and forget that, it wasn’t acceptable.”
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