Charles Sale: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich bankrolls Russia's 2018 World Cup bid

02 December 2009 00:01
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will be using his fortune to boost his Russian homeland's 2018 World Cup bid that is in fierce competition with England's.[LNB]Abramovich, one of the world's richest people, has already signed upto help fund the Russian campaign. The Russians have received around£15million in government funding for their 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidsand expect to raise the same amount or more again from oligarchs suchas Abramovich.[LNB]Bankrolling: Billionaire Abramovich wants to see the World Cup held in his native Russia[LNB]Alexei Sorokin, chief executive of the Russian World Cup team,yesterday revealed the involvement of Abramovich in the bid as he spokefrom the second floor of Russia's grandiose £100,000 exhibition standat the Soccerex conference in Johannesburg.[LNB]   More from Charles Sale... CHARLES SALE: Bafokeng is pitch perfect for England boss Fabio Capello 30/11/09 FIFA chief Blatter reveals angry Ireland want to be 33rd team at the World Cup30/11/09 CHARLES SALE: Kick-off still looms for the 39th Game29/11/09 CHARLES SALE: Aussies upset by World Cup Willie!27/11/09 CHARLES SALE: David Beckham's brand goes on the road26/11/09 Triesman on brink as Premier League chief quits 2018 World Cup bid board25/11/09 EXCLUSIVE: England's 2018 World Cup bid rocked as Sir Dave Richards quits24/11/09 Charles Sale: Francis Baron forced to quit RFU in July 20/11/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE England 2018, which enjoys no government funding, let alone anAbramovich, had been offered the same Soccerex exhibition space by theorganisers but rejected it in the belief that it wasn't worth theoutlay.[LNB]Abramovich's close interest in Russian football goes way beyondbankrolling their bid. He pays the seven-figure salary of national bossGuus Hiddink, whose team failed to qualify for South Africa. [LNB]The Chelsea benefactor also established the country's nationalfootball academy, as well paying the costs of two more junior nationalsides.[LNB]Ironically, Chelsea's former chief executive Peter Kenyon anddirector of communications Simon Greenberg are both now working for theEngland cause, but Abramovich was consulted before the pair took uptheir positions and has no objections even if he is firmly in theRussian corner.[LNB] [LNB]The Qatar 2022 World Cup bid, which has an astonishing £108million budget, has such resources that it has persuaded former Holland star Ronald de Boer to become an enthusiastic ambassador, even though his own country is also in the race. [LNB]The Dutch camp had no knowledge of De Boer's defection before it was announced yesterday. [LNB]Qatar resident De Boer said his decision was based on his passion for such an 'exciting and innovative bid' rather than the money on offer. Of course.[LNB] [LNB]David Beckham is closing down his Los Angeles football academy for the same reason his London venue in Greenwich is shutting its doors after five years coaching kids. [LNB]Beckham (right) wants a more flexible academy structure, because of his worldwide commitments, which he can take out on the road.[LNB]His school in LA not in the best location was struggling for numbers. The coaching staff are in talks about joining the new venture. [LNB]Meanwhile, Beckham launches his one-man mission to put the beleaguered 2018 England bid back on track with a personal meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Cape Town this morning.[LNB] [LNB]Being an ambassador for the England 2018 bid can be a dangerous business, as former national team icon John Barnes discovered when he suffered a ruptured thigh tendon playing for an England all-stars team in a six-a-side Soccerex football match. He needs treatment to thin the blood supply to the injury before he can fly home from Johannesburg.[LNB] Sheffield's plinth coupUnibond League team Sheffield FC, the oldest football club in the world, showed up England 2018's decision not to exhibit at the Soccerex conference in Johannesburg by taking a prime spot on FIFA's stand in the shape of a special plinth displaying football's original rule book from 1857.[LNB]Sheffield FC have three FIFA executive committee men, Sepp Blatter, Jack Warner and Geoff Thompson, as life members. Blatter is also president of their Foundation initiative. The historic South Yorkshire club hope to recruit as many as possible of the 24-strong FIFA high command.[LNB]But, despite their strong links with the Sheffield club, FIFA still vetoed England 2018's plan to put their logo on the rules plinth, permitting only the FA badge.[LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People:Peter Kenyon, John Barnes, Roman Abramovich, David Beckham, Simon Greenberg, Jack Warner, Geoff ThompsonPlaces:London, Cape Town, South Africa, United Kingdom, Russia, The Netherlands, Qatar

Source: Daily_Mail