England's failed World Cup bid

After the shock of England losing out to Russia to host the 2018 World Cup, anger at Fifa continues to mount.

England received just two of the 22 votes on the Fifa executive committee - one of which was from the English member. Consequently, England's bid was eliminated at the first round.

Allegations of corruption swirled around football's governing body today, as bid team officials lamented the fact that votes promised to England did not materialise.

Speculation abounds that Fifa president Sepp Blatter raised the issue of the British media's exposé of corruption at a meeting of the committee prior to the vote.

Russia's prime minister Vladimir Putin has lambasted British media for suggested the votes went to the most corrupt bids.

Analysts were flabbergasted yesterday at the successful bid from Qatar for the 2022 tournament.