Niall Quinn confessed he was 'deeply disappointed' by England's failure to win the bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Black Cats chief speaks of England's bid angst
Niall Quinn confessed he was "deeply disappointed" by England's failure to win the right to host the 2018 World Cup.
The Sunderland chairman expressed his disappointment at the result moments after Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced that Russia had been selected for football's flagship event in eight years' time.
Pre-result rumours leaked to
Sky Sports News proved to be true as Qatar were also named the host nation for the 2022 World Cup in what turned out to be a surprising result in Zurich.
England were eliminated from the bidding process at the first hurdle and Quinn admitted he wants to see a full inquiry of the speculation.
Surprised
He told
Sky Sports News HD: "I'm surprised Russia got it. I thought there was too much guess work when evaluating Russia's bid and I was more fearful of the Portugal/Spain bid.
"The dogs in the street in Zurich were saying what a great bid England had but it almost meant nothing in the end.
"Blatter said himself England were ready to host a World Cup, we saw the presentation was an incredible offer on the table for football and they've gone a different way with it.
"If the unconfirmed reports are true then Fifa need to explain that one."
Twisted
Sunderland were set to be one of the host cities for England's World Cup bid and Quinn lamented some sections of the British media in the aftermath of Thursday's result.
Speaking at the Stadium of Light, he added: "A lot of people have left the room in tears. It's a depressed room. It's deeply disappointing and I'm really gutted for this particular region.
"We will never get bitter and twisted about this but having put so much effort and being highly commended for our national bid, having hosted the Fifa delegates, having scored as highly in the technical report, I think a rule of forces have come into play.
On the
Panorama programme, Quinn said: "For those people who believe that negativity was in the public's interest, I'd like them to come in the centre of Sunderland and stand on a box and tell the people it was better."
