18 Nov 2014

Bernstein calls for boycott

11:34 am on 18 November 2014

The former chairman of England's Football Association has urged the organisation to lobby UEFA to organise a European boycott of the next World Cup unless FIFA reforms itself.

The former FA Chairman David Bernstein.

The former FA Chairman David Bernstein. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

David Bernstein, who was FA chairman between 2011 and 2013, is the latest senior figure to call for united and dramatic European action following the controversy surrounding FIFA's report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

In an interview with the BBC, Bernstein also criticised FIFA for being a "totalitarian" set-up and says choosing Qatar as 2022 hosts was "one of the most ludicrous decisions in the history of sport ... an Alice in Wonderland sort of decision".

Speaking after the findings of last week's report were questioned even by the man who conducted the investigation, Michael Garcia, Bernstein says football's credibility is "suffering enormously" under FIFA.

He says if he was at the FA now, he would do everything he could to encourage other nations within UEFA - and there are some who would definitely be on side.

He says there are 54 countries within UEFA - Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Holland - who are "all powerful... you can't hold a serious World Cup without them... they have the power to influence if they have the will".

Bernstein's comments followed those of German Football League president Reinhard Rauball, who's warned that UEFA could leave FIFA if Garcia's complete report is not made public.