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Warner impressed by Cameron

Image: Warner: Backing USA for 2022

Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has praised English football¿s commitment to social transformation.

Powerbroker believes British PM understands importance of legacy

Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has praised English football's commitment to social transformation after a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron to provide a boost ahead of the 2018 World Cup vote. Warner, under some scrutiny after Monday night's Panorama, had a 20 minute meeting with Cameron in a suite in Zurich's Baur au Lac hotel on Tuesday at which England 2018's David Dein was also present. The Fifa powerbroker, who is also a senior government minister in his native Trinidad, talked about the changing global political climate as well as England's bid. Warner's vote is pivotal to England's hopes because as president of CONCACAF he should be able to deliver a block of three votes to one bid.

Extensive

"The British Prime Minister understands the importance and power of football. He reiterated his government's commitment to the World Cup and spoke extensively about England's legacy programme," said Warner. "A World Cup isn't a one-off event. It is an investment in a country and its people. It is an event which must be seen as a catalyst for social transformation in any nation. The power of football to unite the world can never and should never be underestimated. "Prime Minister Cameron articulated and reaffirmed England's support to the developing football nations. Over the last decade England has supported not only CONCACAF but all federations in their development activities and I must commend the Prime Minister and the FA for that." Cameron also met FIFA executive committee members Marios Lefkaritis and Mohammed bin Hammam as well as the Emir of Qatar.
Global appeal
After meeting Cameron, Warner spoke to USA president Barack Obama on the phone and guaranteed his support for USA's 2022 bid. Warner added: "President Obama understands the importance of sport but more importantly he understands the global appeal of football and all this beautiful game represents. "President Obama commended CONCACAF on all it has achieved under my leadership and I thanked him for his kind sentiments. He emphasised the fact that the US is ready to host this World Cup and that his government is fully behind the bid team. "He asked for my support in their quest to host the World Cup in 2022. It is a request which I will acquiesce to. The CONCACAF family remains united behind its own, the US is our member. Like the principles of our game we cannot turn our back on our family. I will say it again for the 2022 World Cup CONCACAF is behind the USA."

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