Fifa delegation praise ‘perfect’ World Cup bid

England's hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup finals got a shot in the arm after the Fifa delegation that spent the last week inspecting the facilities heaped praise on the bid, although Uefa president Michel Platini sounded a warning note over the FA's lack of a chief executive.

Speaking after their four-day visit to England, Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the head of the Fifa delegation, labelled some parts of the bid as "perfect", but hinted that accommodation for fans could be an issue.

In his closing remarks Mayne-Nicholls said that the stadia, facilities and transport links were in place and revealed the delegation had no concerns about safety and security.

Speaking in Manchester, where the team ended their visit after stops in London and the North East, the Chilean said: "All the needs and objectives of our visit were met and we are positive that the World Cup in England in 2018 would be a great experience with a long-lasting legacy for the country and its people, as well as for football worldwide.

"The concept you are coming up with that every single participating team will be hosted by a domestic professional team makes perfect sense to us. It will guarantee that all the teams will be able to practise in perfect conditions."

However, Michel Platini, one of the men who will decide the venue of the 2018 tournament, said that the FA's lack of leadership could be a problem.

The body has had no chairman since Lord Triesman quit in May over remarks about Russia and Spain's rival bids to host the World Cup, and there are no plans to replace him until after a decision on 2018 is taken in December.

But Platini told the BBC: "If you do not have a president of a national association it's not good for the bid." ·