UEFA chief backs UK World Cup bid

A British bid to host the World Cup in 2030 has moved another step closer with a strong endorsement from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

And following the 2026 tournament, which will be held in UsA, Canada and Mexico, Ceferin is keen for the bid to come from the whole of the UK rather than just England.

‘A UK bid for 2030 would be a wise idea,’ he said. ‘the infrastructure is very good and in a way if more countries join the bid there is more chance to win. i think after all these years, it’s time for that part of Europe to get the World Cup.

‘i don’t doubt the quality of the bid. But the only thing i will insist is that we have only one European bid. i don’t want Europe to be divided because of the World Cup.’

the FA are spending a year on a feasibility study before deciding whether to bid again after doomed campaigns for the 2018 and 2006 World Cups. But the momentum behind a combined British bid is already looking unstoppable. thE ridiculous amount of time that Arsenal chief executive ivan Gazidis has spent prevaricating on his job offer from AC Milan is not just affecting the two clubs. it has also been disrespectful to roma whose CEO Umberto Gandini is expected to return to Milan to work with Gazidis if he leaves Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Christian Purslow must be serious about his new role as chief executive of Aston Villa, having taken a minority stake in the club.

the former Liverpool CEO has spent the last year playing golf and travelling since leaving Chelsea, where he headed their commercial operation. But Purslow couldn’t resist the challenge of helping Villa return to the Premier League after he got a call from owner Nassef sawiris.

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strange lay-out at the Ageas Bowl, with England players staying in hotel rooms on the same floor as the broadcasting suites, led to Alastair Cook walking into the Radio 5 Live booth by mistake after play on the first day, just as Simon Hughes and Eleanor Oldroyd were picking apart the top order’s inept first-innings batting display in the fourth Test against India. Cook was not amused.

lUEFAhave a deserved reputation for organising the Champions League tournament in a professional way. But they let themselves down with the shambolic interview zone after the Champions League draw, when not a single representative from an English club talked to the written Press. Manchester United representative Bryan Robson (above) was prepared to do so but none of the legion of UEFA flunkeys was on hand to direct him to where the Press were standing.