Leicester's World Cup bid 'still on course' despite Fifa attack
Jack Warner, a vice president of football's world governing body, said there was "something wrong" with England's bid, which he branded "lightweight".
At a Leaders in Football summit at Chelsea's ground yesterday, Mr Warner said England was failing to exploit its attributes and suggested that David Beckham and the Queen should be playing a more prominent role in bringing the tournament back to English shores.
As president of Concacaf – the continent-wide governing body for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean – Mr Warner will be a key figure in choosing the World Cup host countries for 2018 and 2022.
He said England's campaign appeared "lacklustre" compared to that of Portugal and Spain, whose joint bid, he believed, was currently leading the pack.
But fans, former players and leaders of Leicester's bid team yesterday said they were not too perturbed by the comments.
The city's high-profile campaign to bring World Cup matches to the Walkers Stadium has so far cost taxpayers £113,000.
City council leader Councillor Ross Willmott said criticism from the leading Fifa figure was not a major concern at this early stage.
He said it should be interpreted as a "friendly warning".
Coun Willmott said: "I do not think it is quite right to describe England's bid as lacklustre. It does not have to be submitted until May and we were off the starting blocks very quickly.
"If you look at Russia they are only just launching their bid now.
"I would not be too concerned – in a way it is almost a sort of encouragement to spur England on."
To secure the World Cup in 2018, England faces competition from Belgium and the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the United States.
A decision will be made by Fifa's executive committee in December 2010.
Mr Warner will cast three of the 24 votes that decide the winner.
Foxes legend Alan Birchenall, who is backing Leicester's bid, said he still believed the quality of football and stadiums in England would give it the edge.
He said: "We've got the infrastructure, the training facilities and the stadiums – that is the message we need to get across.
"The decision is still 14 months away so I think it is a bit early to be making criticisms of England's bid.
"It's like preparing a meal – you don't put all the food on the table at once, and in terms of the bid we are still only just sitting down for the starter."
It is not the first time Mr Warner – one of eight Fifa vice presidents – has spoken disparagingly of England's World Cup hopes.
In 2007, he caused controversy by declaring in a BBC interview that "nobody in Europe likes England" and that "England is an irritant".
The arrangement of a friendly match between England and Mr Warner's native Trinidad and Tobago in June last year was widely seen as an attempt by the English FA to get Mr Warner on side.
Leicester City Supporters' Club chairman Cliff Ginetta said: "I think this reflects that certain people in world football just have a bit of a downer on England.
"I think the bid has been high profile and people are excited about it. There's much more we could be doing at the moment."
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