Blatter: I’ll help British 2030 bid

Sepp Blatter has said he will use his “influence” to help a British bid win the right to stage the 2030 World Cup, providing his help is wanted.

The disgraced ex-fifa president was speaking in Moscow, where he is a guest of Russian president Vladimir Putin despite being banned from all football activities.

The 82-year-old, who has been suspended by Fifa since 2015, backed Russia’s bid when they won the right to host the 2018 World Cup, beating, among others, England. “I still feel that England, the motherland of football, should have a World Cup when it’s the turn of Europe,” said Blatter. “There will be a lot of contenders [for 2030] but they will deserve it, and Scotland, Wales and the Irish – why not? – should be in, too, because that would be a better candidate for a 48-team World Cup.”

Asked if he would use the influence he built up during his 17-year reign as Fifa boss to support a British bid, he said: “OK, I will use my influence, if England will accept my influence.”