Triesman to change status

The Chairman of the Football Association and England 2018 ltd. Lord David Triesman announced today that he had advised the House of Lords of his wish to change his status in the House to that of a non-aligned peer. Such peers sit on the cross-benches.

Lord Triesman said ‘This change underlines my determination that the bid for the FIFA World Cup should be understood to be wholly outside any party politics. As Chairman of the Bid I will remain non-aligned until the decision is taken by FIFA’s Executive Committee. It is in the best interests of a successful campaign that I should do so’.

Lord Triesman would not be the only member of the House of Lords to take non-aligned status. Present members to do the same include Lord Coe during the Olympics 2012 bid and Lord Smith as Chairman of the Environment Agency.

FIFA’s decision on the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments is expected in December 2010