World Cup bid must not be politicised

Hugh Robertson, the Shadow Sports Minister, has warned that having five current or former politicians on the World Cup bid board could politicise the process.

He said it was “quite right” that Lords Triesman and Mawhinney – the Chairmen of the FA and Football League – should be part of the nine-strong board, as well as the Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe.

But he stressed that it was “ridiculous” to include Richard Caborn as a ‘special representative’ for the Prime Minister, describing it as “a snub to the competence of the Sports Minister”, and warning that it “politicises the bid”.

Hugh also expressed doubts about what Baroness Amos, the former Labour Leader in the Lords, could add to the process.