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Sepp Blatter ban could fuel new England World Cup bid, says Greg Dyke

FA chairman Greg Dyke criticised Jose Mourinho for not apologising to Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro.
Image: FA chairman Greg Dyke could be open to a new English World Cup bid in the future

Greg Dyke believes Sepp Blatter's eight-year ban from football has removed a significant barrier to England bidding for the World Cup again.

The Football Association had ruled out another bid while Blatter was in charge of FIFA following their failed attempt for the 2018 World Cup, which was awarded to Russia.

Dyke claimed the decision was made "by a bunch of crooks", but Blatter's ban could open the way to the consideration of another attempt if the FIFA Congress in February brings in the right reforms.

Of the 24 FIFA executive members at the time of the vote in 2010, five have been indicted by the US justice department.

At least two more have been referred to as co-conspirators by the FBI and a total of seven others have been banned including Blatter and Michel Platini.

On top of that, Franz Beckenbauer is under investigation over his role in Germany's successful bid for the 2006 event.

The Government's new sports policy document published last week said it will develop "a UK-wide strategy for so-called 'mega-events"' including the World Cup by September 2016.

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FIFA president Sepp Blatter attends a press conference as reaction to his banishment for eight years by the FIFA ethics committee
Image: Dyke thinks Sepp Blatter's time in football is over regardless of what happen in the appeals process

A bid for the 2026 World Cup looks unlikely but one for 2030 could be possible.

FA chairman Dyke said Blatter's departure was an important change, but stressed a "proper and effective" reform process was as crucial before another bid could be considered.

Dyke said: "There is nobody who wouldn't love to have the World Cup in England but the process has to be done in a fair, honest and transparent way, not carved up by a bunch of crooks which is what happened last time.

"If you look at past World Cups, one after the other you have to ask if you could have won a World Cup bid without being suspect.

UEFA president Michel Platini (left) and Paraguay FA president Alejandro Dominguez
Image: Dyke admits he does have some sympathy for Platini (left) despite his own eight-year ban

"I think it's the end for Blatter whatever happens in the appeals process. The important thing is that we never get anyone with the same sort of power that Blatter had again.

"It all depends on the reform process and as long as the reform process is effective, there is proper split between the president and the administration with a proper chief executive."

Blatter and Platini were banned for eight years by FIFA's ethics committee on Monday over a £1.3m payment made to the Frenchman by FIFA in 2011.

An illuminated FIFA logo sits on a sign at the FIFA headquarters on December 3, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Image: Dyke believes the £1.35m payment to Platini was indicative of how FIFA has been run for many years

They had said it followed a verbal agreement made between the two more than 13 years previously.

While Dyke admits to having "a bit of sympathy" for Platini, he thinks the payment is indicative of how FIFA had been run for decades.

Dyke added: "At the end of the day, if you take a payment of £1.3m the whole thing tells you about the culture of the organisation. That kind of thing happened so often nobody thought it mattered."

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