The English bid team were offering VIP tickets to the Olympics main events and top hotel accommodation to people that would vote for us weren't they? Surely we are not as innocent as we are trying to claim but were out bribed?
This.
I seem to remember stories of all the things that FIFA representatives expected for themselves - exclusive five star hotels, special tax breaks, etc, and we were willing to bend over backwards to give them whatever they wanted. Just comes across as quite bitter from England.
Well there you have a problem. The FA weren't offering these sweeteners as bribes you have to provide a "package" to even be considered.
FIFA insist on officials being accommodated in 5 star hotels and having access to top national porting events to "assess" the countries ability to organise high profile events.
I wonder what Quatar were able to show them in terms of massive sports organisation? Camel racing? There's **** all there.
Surely that would have meant the events they were invited to would have been before the selection process?
I remember the FA saying they were going to take back the tickets etc after we lost the bid.