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England's 2018 World Cup ambassador Richard Caborn has hit back at Fifa vice-president Jack Warner's claim that he will attempt to block their bid.
Warner, president of Concacaf, told BBC World Service he wants the event staged in his region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.
But Caborn told the BBC in response: "That is Jack. He will fight to the death to get it to Concacaf.
"We will put a strong case, along with the Football Association, to get it."
Warner launched a public attack on England and the Football Association in a full and frank interview, claiming they were unpopular inside the game.
The remarks will be a blow to the Football Association, who were likely to plan a bid on the back of any change to the current selection procedures.
"If the World Cup were to go to Europe, I'm quite sure, with the English luck as it is, they won't get it," Warner said.
Warner, a member of the world football body's executive committee since 1983, added: "It will be Italy, Spain, or even France who will get the World Cup if it goes to Europe.
"Nobody in Europe likes England. England invented the sport but has never made any impact on world football."
But Caborn said: "What is unfortunate is that Jack has attacked England and particularly the FA - and the FA has done a first-class job.
"They have got 30 schemes running around the world, education programmes, on six continents.
"Indeed in Trinidad, for the last seven years they have had three workshops running which have been incredibly well-received by Concacaf, so it's not quite true what Jack is saying."
FA chief executive Brian Barwick told BBC Radio Five Live he was "disappointed" by Warner's remarks.
"On Uefa, we are - alongside Germany - the most well-represented country in football across committees and working groups.
"I think frankly they are personal remarks," he added. "I think Fifa will distance themselves from them very quickly."
It is believed Fifa president Sepp Blatter is set to end the World Cup rotation policy when the executive committee meet later in the year.
Instead, the association are likely to approve a format that only precludes the continents that held the previous two World Cups from bidding again, which in 2018 would be Africa and South America.
Warner, president of Concacaf, added that he would battle to bring international football's premier tournament to his region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.
"I really don't believe that we should just lay down and play dead to anyone who wants to take the World Cup from Concacaf," he said.
In July another Fifa executive committee member and former World Cup winner, German legend Franz Beckenbauer, offered his support to England hosting the 2018 World Cup.
He told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek: "There is no better country in Europe to host the World Cup in 2018. England is the favourite."
He added: "The most important thing is to end the rotation and bring the tournament back to Europe.
"The Premier League at the moment is the best league in Europe and the stadiums are outstanding.
"In my opinion, there is only one very serious candidate and it is England."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/6939170.stm
Warner, president of Concacaf, told BBC World Service he wants the event staged in his region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.
But Caborn told the BBC in response: "That is Jack. He will fight to the death to get it to Concacaf.
"We will put a strong case, along with the Football Association, to get it."
Warner launched a public attack on England and the Football Association in a full and frank interview, claiming they were unpopular inside the game.
The remarks will be a blow to the Football Association, who were likely to plan a bid on the back of any change to the current selection procedures.
"If the World Cup were to go to Europe, I'm quite sure, with the English luck as it is, they won't get it," Warner said.
Warner, a member of the world football body's executive committee since 1983, added: "It will be Italy, Spain, or even France who will get the World Cup if it goes to Europe.
"Nobody in Europe likes England. England invented the sport but has never made any impact on world football."
But Caborn said: "What is unfortunate is that Jack has attacked England and particularly the FA - and the FA has done a first-class job.
"They have got 30 schemes running around the world, education programmes, on six continents.
"Indeed in Trinidad, for the last seven years they have had three workshops running which have been incredibly well-received by Concacaf, so it's not quite true what Jack is saying."
FA chief executive Brian Barwick told BBC Radio Five Live he was "disappointed" by Warner's remarks.
"On Uefa, we are - alongside Germany - the most well-represented country in football across committees and working groups.
"I think frankly they are personal remarks," he added. "I think Fifa will distance themselves from them very quickly."
It is believed Fifa president Sepp Blatter is set to end the World Cup rotation policy when the executive committee meet later in the year.
Instead, the association are likely to approve a format that only precludes the continents that held the previous two World Cups from bidding again, which in 2018 would be Africa and South America.
Warner, president of Concacaf, added that he would battle to bring international football's premier tournament to his region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.
"I really don't believe that we should just lay down and play dead to anyone who wants to take the World Cup from Concacaf," he said.
In July another Fifa executive committee member and former World Cup winner, German legend Franz Beckenbauer, offered his support to England hosting the 2018 World Cup.
He told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek: "There is no better country in Europe to host the World Cup in 2018. England is the favourite."
He added: "The most important thing is to end the rotation and bring the tournament back to Europe.
"The Premier League at the moment is the best league in Europe and the stadiums are outstanding.
"In my opinion, there is only one very serious candidate and it is England."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/6939170.stm
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