Thursday 13 November 2014 08:04, UK
FIFA are set to reveal the details of their long-awaited investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process with England's failed bid set to be criticised.
Former attorney Michael Garcia has compiled a report, and a summary of it will be released on Thursday morning by FIFA’s ethics committee chairman Hans-Joachim Eckert.
Russia, who will host the 2018 tournament, England – who lost out to the Russians - and 2022 hosts Qatar are among the countries whose Football Associations will be given early sight of the report summary before it is made public.
Sky Sports News HQ’s chief news reporter Bryan Swanson, who is in Moscow ahead of the announcement, said: “Russia 2018 officials are waiting to learn just how prominently their bid will feature in this lengthy investigation.
England feel that their bid was transparent, and there is every confidence in the integrity of their officials.
“They, along with other bidding nations, are expecting to receive a copy of the summary of the findings shortly.
“England’s failed bid is likely to feature…and they are likely to be criticised. England’s bid team are yet to receive prior warning of what is in it. But they are already understood to be keen for this to be put in context.
“England feel that their bid was transparent, and there is every confidence in the integrity of their officials. They are close to learning, like everyone else, what Michael Garcia’s lengthy investigation has uncovered. Expect to hear the word ‘context’ used a lot when this summary is finally revealed concerning the bidding nations.”
Neither of the leaders of England's 2018 bid at the time, chairman Lord Triesman and chief executive Andy Anson, have ties with the Football Association any longer.
The investigation by American Garcia has looked into the bidding processes by all countries who contested the 2010 vote for the World Cups.
FIFA's executive committee made Russia the hosts of the 2018 competition, ahead of England - who won just two votes - plus joint bids by Holland/Belgium and Spain/Portugal. The 2022 tournament went to Qatar who beat USA, Korea, Japan and Australia.
FIFA issued a statement saying: "The chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of the independent ethics committee, Hans-Joachim Eckert, confirms that a statement relating to the investigatory chamber's report on the inquiry into the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process will be made publicly available on Thursday, 13 November, at approximately 10.00 CET (0900 GMT).
Amy Lewis will explain Garcia's findings and the implications on Sky Sports News HQ on Thursday morning
