Lord Triesman claims a disagreement over the 39th game proposal hampered England's World Cup bid
Former FA chairman feels 39th game debate hampered support
Former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman claims the Premier League withheld support for England's 2018 World Cup bid due to a disagreement over the 39th game proposal.
The Premier League's now-abandoned proposal that each team play an extra game abroad to promote the game was not favoured by Triesman when he was with the FA, which he believes stalled their backing.
Triesman stepped down as FA and England 2018 chairman in May 2010 and had no input into the final six months of England's failed bid to host the event, which was awarded to Russia last December.
"The Premier League took a very long time to come on board," Triesman told the House of Commons culture, media and sport committee on Tuesday.
"It was put to me by [Premier League chief executive] Richard Scudamore that if I thought the 39th Game was a good idea they would have come on board much earlier."
Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards did eventually become a bid director before resigning within 12 months, but Triesman claimed the damage had already been done.
Triesman added: "Sir Dave did come on and did a lot of travelling for the bid which I was very grateful for. When he did resign however he was shaking an already rather shaky machine."
Arrogance
Mike Lee, formerly communications director of the Premier League, UEFA and London's 2012 Olympic bid, believes the bid reeked of arrogance and failed to put across the right message.
"It was never clear what the overall strategy or compelling message of what England could offer football was," said Lee.
"It sounded very arrogant, that we are the best, we have the most passionate fans - try telling that to people from Brazil and Argentina - and we have the Premier League so we must be the best."
Lee also added there was no "rush of activity" from the Government in supporting the bid, pointing to the aid former Prime Minister Tony Blair provided in London's successful 2012 Olympics bid.
Triesman echoed that view, before claiming the FA had originally been forced into bidding by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He said: "He (Brown) did not give an ultimatum - he announced if before the FA board had considered it."
