England World Cup bid gets boost from Platini

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FIFA's ethics committee are investigating claims made by Lord Triesman that Spain would support Russia's bid for the 2018 World Cup in return for help bribing referees in South Africa.

Triesman has resigned following publication of a recording of the comments, made secretly during a conversation with a friend.

Platini said the row may have damaged England's bid but insists it can recover - and believes Triesman deserves support.

The UEFA president, in Zurich for the International FA Board meeting, said: "I have a good friendship with Lord Triesman and I want to help him in his bad moment, for him as a person.

"I want to support my friend in this big problem.
"I think it is a bad thing that happened to him."

Platini said the controversy could have harmed England's bid but under Triesman's successor Geoff Thompson - a UEFA and FIFA vice-president - the campaign could recover before the vote by FIFA's executive committee is taken on December 2.

Asked if the bid had been damaged, Platini said: "Maybe yes, I think you need the people who vote on your side.

"But for the bid Geoff Thompson is a good guy, England is a great country and of course it can recover and survive this."

Meanwhile Warner, who had been critical of England's bid in October, said the FA's swift action had limited any damage.

Warner told Bloomberg: "It's unfortunate but the English FA dealt with it appropriately and quickly and therefore I don't believe there'll be too much negative reaction from it."

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said he wanted a speedy investigation to ensure the corruption claims were just "crazy allegations".

Valcke has referred the case to the ethics committee both to investigate Triesman's comments about Spain and Russia, and to determine if any action should be taken against England's 2018 bid.

Valcke said: "I want definitely to have something decided before the World Cup because some of the comments were about the World Cup. It has to be quick.

"We are looking at the content of the allegations because it was about the World Cup and the bids, and also on Lord Triesman and the way he made these statements.

"It's good that it's happening 20 days prior to the World Cup so it gives us time to make sure that all of this is wrong and that they are crazy allegations."
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