Barwick investigating Warner comments

Chief executive Brian Barwick has revealed the Football Association intend to get to the bottom of FIFA vice-president Jack Warner's claims that he will block their bid for the 2018 World Cup.

Warner, a member of the world football body's executive committee since 1983, rejected England's credentials for hosting the competition in a scathing interview with the BBC World Service last week.

And Barwick revealed the FA have already contacted Warner asking him to explain his comments.

He said: "I think they were deeply personal comments because I think FIFA distanced themselves from them very quickly. They were unusual, they came out of the blue, CONCACAF is a federation we support.

"We will try and behave like gentlemen but we have written to him to ask him to explain himself. When he gets it, he will reply to it. We have asked and we do intend to know what he meant."

CONCACAF president Warner is leading his region's claims to host the 2018 World Cup, with England amongst the competition.

But Warner cast doubt on England's chances of hosting the competition, suggesting they are unpopular within the international football community.

He said: "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.

"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."