English World Cup bid gets timely boost

ENGLAND'S troubled 2018 World Cup bid has been given a boost by both UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.

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

Platini said: "I have a good friendship with Lord Triesman and I want to help him in his bad moment.

I think it is a bad thing that happened to him."

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 (Triesman's successor] is a good guy, England is a great country and of course it can recover."

Meanwhile Warner added: "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."