Source: Daily_Mail
CHARLES SALE: Panorama probe fails to nail FIFA and only serves to anger Sepp Blatter
The 16 questions that the BBC's Panorama have demanded FIFA president Sepp Blatter answer for their World Cup bid investigation explain why England 2018 are so angry about the programme.[LNB]The questions have been sent in a letter to Blatter by Panorama producer James Oliver, whose programme seemingly contains no material not already in the public domain and merely rehashes previous FIFA controversies.[LNB] Threatened: The BBC programme Panorama reveals little not already known about FIFA[LNB]And, naive in the extreme, Panorama want Blatter to be interviewedby their reporter Andrew Jennings, who is regarded as public enemy No 1at FIFA's Zurich headquarters. It will certainly provoke Blatter - soclose to the December 2 ballot - to be asked again whether he tookbribes in the ISL marketing case, having been cleared by a Swiss court.[LNB]Panorama could easily justify their programme, due to be screenedthree days before the vote, if their inquiry had uncovered freshevidence of wrongdoing in the 2018 and 2022 bid process. Butantagonising the voting FIFA ExCo - with other members sent similarletters to Blatter - with old allegations at such a sensitive time is aquestionable use of licence-payers' money. [LNB]England's serious worries over their campaign saw international president David Dein visit Blatter in Zurich on Wednesday.[LNB] ***************************************************************************************** [LNB] More from Charles Sale... Charles Sale: Agents fight over Newcastle hotshot Andy Carroll's contract10/11/10 Charles Sale: FA motor towards England deal with Vauxhall09/11/10 Charles Sale: England only third in running to host 2018 World Cup08/11/10 Charles Sale: Hong Kong businessman Kenny Huang hit by writ at sport summit30/10/10 Charles Sale: England 2018 bid weighed down by acting FA chairman Burden?28/10/10 CHARLES SALE: FIFA mull delay to 2018 World Cup ballot27/10/10 CHARLES SALE: World Cup 2018 bid battle hots up on the home front26/10/10 Olympic coaches sent home from Gymnastics finals after bar brawl25/10/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE The World Cup bid inspection reports, due to be sent out today to FIFA ExCo members, are understood to be extremely positive about the England bid in the narrative. But assessing risk as 'high', 'medium' or 'low' for issues including transport, accommodation and stadiums might not allow England to stand out enough to make up the lost ground against 2018 front-runners Spain and Russia.[LNB] ********************************** [LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson racked up yet another fine for breaching Premier League regulations by not speaking to the BBC after the Manchester derby. Yet despite it being 24 days since the PL board decided how much United should pay for each offence, the club are yet to hear from chairman Sir Dave Richards. He's still waiting for an appropriate time to tell United chief David Gill. Talk about being one rule for United and another for the rest.[LNB] **********************************[LNB]Sky Sports are embroiled in sensitive negotiations with the ECB over their demand for a rebate on their £260m rights deal that runs until after the home Ashes series in 2013. Rupert Murdoch's network want money back because the Stanford Twenty20 matches and an English equivalent of the Indian Premier League, both included in the 2008 contract, have not materialised. Neither side would comment except to confirm discussions were taking place. [LNB] ***********************************[LNB]2012 chiefs take wrapDesign consultants involved in the Olympic Stadium are mystified why the £7million fabric 'wrap' - which would have concealed the structure and reduced swirling winds in the arena - is being ditched for minimal costsaving reasons in a £500m project.[LNB] Under wraps: Questions are being asked about certain cost-cutting measures[LNB]They don't understand why the decision has been taken when the affect it has on athletic performances cannot be properly judged until track and field takes place there. [LNB]Spectator comfort will also be compromised in bad weather without the shield. And if the decision were to be reversed nearer the 2012 Games, the extra concern is it would cost a lot more than £7m to install.[LNB] **********************************Not least of the FA worries if England's 2018 World Cup bid fails is the impetus that would give to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport inquiry into football governance with the FA anything but fit for purpose. The investigation is due to start in December, so as not to affect the campaign, but then it will be open season on the FA.[LNB] **********************************[LNB]Sky rushed out 3D Premier League coverage earlier this year, but judging by the underwhelmed reaction of guests at a PL gathering to view the Manchester derby, it isn't living up to the incessant hype. Football, with its high and wide camera angles, is far less suited to 3D than cricket, golf and tennis.[LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Rupert Murdoch, Sepp Blatter, David Gill, David Dein Places: Manchester, Spain, United Kingdom, Russia, Olympic Stadium
