Tell us why Leicester didn't get to be a World Cup city
Saturday, December 19, 2009, 09:30
The England 2018 selection panel has offered Leicester no explanation for why it failed to win a chance to host World Cup games if the country stages the event.
The project director for Leicester's World Cup bid told the Mercury yesterday that he was still stunned by the decision, and that the city's bid was as good as any submitted.
But one theory is that the FA "changed its opinion" about what would give the England bid "greater strength".
Cities which had hoped to host World Cup matches if England gained the 2018 tournament were told the degree of risk regarding stadium facilities was one of the most important factors.
But while Leicester's bid was based around the Walkers stadium, Nottingham's was based around a 45,000-seat stadium yet to be built.
Leicester was one of just three cities which had failed to make it the shortlist, along with Derby and Hull.
The director of Leicester's bid, Alistair Reid, told the Mercury yesterday: "We've had no feedback at all – all we have been told is that they haven't decided whether or not to give us feedback."
Nottingham's proposed stadium has been opposed by local residents and divided politicians and planning officers.
Leicester and Derby's submissions were both based on upgrading their existing stadia.
Mr Reid, the Leicester City Council officer who oversaw the city's application, said: "We submitted a fully compliant bid.
"The only area of risk surrounded the proposals to expand the stadium but we had a legal agreement from Leicester City that it would happen, with everything from steward numbers to changing room sizes specified.
"We were very surprised by the result because of the well-known issues about Nottingham."
Competing cities made three submissions. After the first two, they got feedback from the panel.
Mr Reid said the panel's main concerns about Leicester's bid had appeared to be accommodation and transport.
But he said: "We gave details about 19,000 bed spaces in the area, which is more than enough.
"In terms of transport, we had links between regional airports, rail links, motorways, park-and-ride and walking routes.
"We went through all their feedback in detail and addressed everything – even the number of photographs in our bid document."
Mr Reid said he would push the panel for more information.
He said: "We're stunned that neither Leicester nor Derby were chosen, while the high-risk stadium proposal in the East Midlands was."
Nick Carter, chairman of Prospect Leicestershire – the county regeneration group which backed the bid – said one possibility was that the FA had "shifted its own goalposts".
He said: "They might have thought holding up a brand new stadium in front of FIFA was the best way to win the World Cup. If Nottingham runs into difficulties no matches will be played in the East Midlands."
England 2018 declined to comment.