|
The launch of England's World Cup bid yesterday was somewhat overshadowed when the BNP came to Wembley. Bosses of the 2018 project were left red faced after an invite was sent to one Richard Barnbrook, British National Party London-wide member of the Greater London Assembly. Ever the patriot, Barnbrook attended along with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, David Beckham and other grandees of English football. The FA would have found the incident rather embarrassing given they have spearheaded Kick It Out, the effort to rid the game of racism. England 2018 executives last night promised to banish the BNP from all future events Mayor Boris Johnson may have seen this one coming and saw fit to jet of to South Korea for a climate change meeting. "Embarrassing" and "bizarre" His envoy, Richard Caborn, described the gaff as "embarrassing". Kick It Out chair and founder, Lord Herman Ouseley called the incident "bizarre" and rounded on organisers saying: "If the aim of the event was to send out a message of diversity and multi-representation then this seems a strange way of going about it. "Caused offence" On the Barking and Dagenham access, England 2018 said: "All elected members of the GLA were invited to today's launch. We recognise that the presence of one elected member, who is playing no part in the England 2018 bid, has caused offence and we apologise. He should not have been present at today's event and will not be at any in future." Far from a publicity stunt, the BNP claimed they told the GLA they were turning up - Barnbrook said: "I was there as a representative of the GLA. The organisers invited every member of the GLA and only four turned up. I was one of them. My researcher forgot to give me my invitation on Friday and so she contacted the organisers and said councillor Barnbrook has left his invitation behind. They said I had to mention my number, 631, at the door and I could come in."
'Lack of black' - African votes
The BNP attendance coincided with a 'lack of black' at the top tire of the bid launch - John Barnes, an ambassador for the bid, was attending but was called away by the Jamaica team he manages. Hope Powell, the England women's coach and also an ambassador for the bid, is currently leading her team's international training camp. African votes will be key to the success of the bid; they hold four African executive committee members at Fifa.
|
