FIFA president says 'resentment' of Britain may have cost England

FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes "resentment" of Britain's special privileges on football's world governing body may have harmed England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Last month England gained just two of the 22 FIFA votes as Russia triumphed in the contest to host the tournament.

Blatter, who also gave the clearest indication yet that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played during the winter, pointed to the fact that some FIFA members resent Britain having their own FIFA vice-president and the home nations having separate status.

For historic reasons, the four home associations also represent half of the International FA Board (IFAB), the game's law-making body, with FIFA making up the other half.

FIFA members such as Argentina's Julio Grondona and Trinidad's Jack Warner have made little secret of their opposition to such special status.

Blatter, speaking to reporters in Doha, Qatar, said: "I cannot judge why England was so badly disappointed. They did a good job, a good presentation. There must be inside FIFA some reticence to England, perhaps these four associations. Maybe some resentment because of the privileges.

"Great Britain has a great importance inside FIFA since 1946. They have four national associations inside FIFA and one vice-presidency. They are also 50 per cent of IFAB. There are no more privileges you can give to someone.

"If you have all these privileges you must handle these in a very intelligent way."

Blatter also suggested that the BBC Panorama investigation into FIFA members, screened three days before the vote, may also have had an effect. He added: "Maybe the last-minute press and television about matters that have already been dealt with could have played a part."

Blatter was in Doha ahead of the opening match of the Asian Cup, and he said he expected the 2022 World Cup to be in January instead of June - something that would have a huge impact on domestic football in Europe. He said: "I expect it will be held in the winter. We have time to look at this question, it is still 11 years away but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup which means January or the end of the year."