Sport

Newslines: Africa to get 2010 World Cup

An African country is to host the 2010 World Cup following a decision by the sport's world governing body

Fri Mar 16 2001 - 00:00

An African country is to host the 2010 World Cup following a decision by the sport's world governing body. FIFA's executive committee decided in Switzerland yesterday to award the tournament to a continent without allowing other continents to bid. "Everyone is agreed it should be in Africa," said David Will, a member of the executive committee which met in Zurich. "I can't see it being given to another continent."

European soccer boss Lennart Johannson said the executive committee was in full agreement with the decision. "It must go to Africa," he said. South Africa lost the 2006 World Cup vote to Germany by a single vote in a bitter campaign.

Will stressed that the decision did not mean South Africa would automatically be given the competition. "The decision was to give it to the continent - not a country," he stressed. However, FIFA sources said that South Africa would be the frontrunner

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