CHARLES SALE’S SPORTS AGENDA:
THE FA have remarkably received the backing of arch rivals Germany for England to host the 2030 World Cup — without any negotiations.
There is still no decision by the FA, still bruised from the 2018 bid debacle, about whether to put their hat in the ring for 2030, when the World Cup is expected to be staged in Europe again.
Yet German federation president Reinhard Grindel announced at the official function before the international friendly on Friday that his country would fully support England as the UEFA candidate.
This premature endorsement is all the more surprising considering the history of tournament bidding rivalry between the nations, including the disputed gentlemen’s agreement that the FA would support Germany for the 2006 World Cup in return for their backing around Euro 96 — the last big football tournament held here.
The FA welcomed Germany’s support over 2030, but there is going to be no reciprocal backing for their ambition to host the Euros in 2024.
Also in England’s corner for 2030 is UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who wants only one candidate from Europe and strongly believes that it is England’s turn. ITV Sport and the FA will be relieved that the 1m-plus TV viewers who deserted England for the dead rubber in Lithuania last month switched on for the draw against Germany that attracted a peak of 6.3m. CHELSEA have removed a major obstacle to their plans for a new stadium by agreeing a deal for former owner Ken Bates (right) to move out of his penthouse flat at Stamford Bridge.
Bates was understood to be the last resident left who hadn’t agreed removal terms with the club. Now that he has, Chelsea can knock down the hotel and the apartments attached whenever they wish, before moving out in 2020 ahead of the stadium reconstruction.
Neither Bates nor the club would reveal the terms of his departure and whether Chelsea bought him another property. Either way, it would have been expensive for the football club to shift Old Greybeard. ENGLAND
rugby union coach Eddie Jones, who can be extremely contrary on occasions, bristled when asked after the dull win over Argentina if those who paid more than £100 for a seat received value for money. But with premium Twickenham tickets in three figures reflecting the rampant commercial priorities of the RFU, it was a very fair question. And they will cost a lot more for the All Blacks next November.