Sport: Football World Cup 2018

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale Excerpts

Monday 26th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Shutt of Greetland]

My Lords, there have been lessons learned from an unsuccessful bid for the 2006 World Cup. There was then an in-depth inquiry by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the other place back in 2001. That was analysed by both the Football Association and the Government and fed into the development of the bid structure and what has happened since. Winning the 2012 Olympics was, obviously, a great success story and account was taken of that in going forward for this bid. The major feature is that there is a stand-alone bid company, which has put in the bid. Football may be a national game but it is not a nationalised game. The bid company has done that work on behalf of the Football Association.

[Lord Corbett of Castle Vale]

Is the Minister aware that FIFA did not pay any tax on the profits it made from the recent world championships—in which England apparently did not take part? Can he assure the House that that will not be repeated should we be successful in this bid?

[Lord Shutt of Greetland]

My Lords, I cannot confirm that. It is a very tricky line, the whole basis of getting this bid. As I indicated, on the one hand one has to give all this information; on the other, the FIFA people say that Governments should not interfere with the game of football.