Marketing - Written by Hannah McLaverty-Williamson on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 10:42 - 0 Comments
Sponsors remain committed to England’s bid
Sponsors backing England’s 2018 World Cup Bid have pledged their continued support, despite the departure of Lord Triesman.
The former bid chairman was forced to resign from his post as bid leader, as well as his position as FA chairman after The Mail on Sunday published transcripts of a secret recording in which he accused the rival host nations Spain and Russia of planning to bribe game officials.
FIFA are currently investigating the matter and although it is unlikely that the investigation will result in England’s bid being fully rejected, many have been left worried that the scandal has ruined the country’s chance of hosting the World Cup.
Match of the Day presenter Gary Linekar, an ambassador for the 2018 campaign, resigned as a columnist for The Mail on Sunday claiming that their publishing of the Lord Triesman story, had undermined England’s bid.
However, the England 2018 partners are determined to weather the storm. Official sponsors BT, Morrisons and N- Power told marketing news magazine Marketing Week, that they remain committed to the cause.
Morrison’s marketing director Michael Bates was cited as saying: “It is now more important than ever to demonstrate the strength of public enthusiasm for England to host the tournament.”
N-Power’s marketing director Kevin Peak told Marketing Week that the energy supplier “Will continue to do everything we can to make this happen.”
Although the sponsors are undeterred the full extent of the damage, Lord Triesman’s comments have caused will not completely emerge until the vote, due to take place in December.
The FA have apologised both to FIFA and the football associations of Russia and Spain. Geoff Thompson, who was the chairman of the FA between 1999 and 2008, has since been appointed the new chairman of England’s bid.
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