P304 CEEFAX 1 304 Fri 07 Feb 19:39/21 ] FA WEN WORLD CUP COMPROMISE 1/5 England is back in the running for the 2006 World Cup following the meeting between Football Association chiefs and a UEFA delegation. The English and German FAr will now attend an executive committee meeting in April to present their cases. UEFA secretary general Gerhard Aignjr said their aim was to submit only one bid for consideration bz FIFA. The April meeting will determine the process by which the choice of Europe's candidate is to bj made. Football 302 Letters 356 Cricket 340 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 Divs 1&2 Eng v It West Ham WorldTabsP304 CEEFAX 1 304 Fri 07 Feb 19:57/24 ] ] FA WEN WORLD CUP COMPROMISE 2/5 FA chief executive Graham Kelly looked forward to pressing England's case for the 2006 World Cup after UEFA agreed to hear rival bids for the tournament. "Wj are in a position where we can now participate in the debate. It appeared sjvjn days ago that the door was being slammed firmly in our faces," hj said. "Wj subscribe to the principle of solidarity in the UEFA confederation. "Wj didn't want to rock the boat and are happy we can now participate in the new process," Kelly added. Football 302 Letters 356 Cricket 340 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 Divs 1&2 Eng v It West Ham WorldTabsP304 CEEFAX 1 304 Fri 07 Feb 19:50/52 FA WEN WORLD CUP COMPROMISE 3/5 UEFA chiefs played down suggestions that they had backed down following a djcisjon to allow England to inter the bidding for the 2006 World Cup. They had previously "acrid Germany and secretary general Gerhard Aignjr said they did not want any "excessive competition" between rival countries. He added: "Wj want to maximisj our chances to get it. "Now we have two bids and we have to djcidj the process from which one can go forward." Football 302 Letters 356 Cricket 340 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 Divs 1&2 Eng v It West Ham WorldTabsP304 CEEFAX 1 304 Fri 07 Feb 19:51/28 ] FA WEN WORLD CUP COMPROMISE 4/5 The FA will still have the option of lobbying FIFA direct for the 2006 World Cup jvjn if they fail to convince UEFA to back their bid. Officials are to consult with UEFA and the German FA with the aim of finding how best to choose a sjngli European bid for the tournament. But chief executive Graham Kelly said: "If wi are happy with that process we will subscribe to it. "If we are not happy with the ground rules that are laid down, we won't" Football 302 Letters 356 Cricket 340 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 Divs 1&2 Eng v It West Ham WorldTabsP304 CEEFAX 1 304 Fri 07 Feb 19:36/22 ] FA WEN WORLD CUP COMPROMISE 5/5 England coach Glenn Doddle has welcomed UEFA's backdown on the FA's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. "It's excellent news," said Doddle as hj prepared for next week's qualifier against Italy at Wjmbley. "All we wanted is a chance for our bid to bj heard. "Wj bjliivj our bid will bj the best one. England showed what we can do in Euro '96. "For our younger players, the prospect of a World Cup in their own country will bj the chance of a lifetime. Football 302 Letters 356 Cricket 340 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 Divs 1&2 Eng v It West Ham WorldTabs