Brown signs off FIFA overrule of UK immigration controls for World Cup bid

December 16 2009 by Liam Clifford

New agreement on UK immigration rules to enable the UK for world cup hosting selection in 2018

The Prime Minister has signed an agreement drawn up by FIFA that will enable the UK to be considered as a contender to host the 2018 World Cup tournament.

Part of the agreement signed will allow all FIFA staff and representatives to bypass UK immigration restrictions. This could see the UK suspending normal border controls for those involved with the World Cup, potentially including people who are usually prohibited from obtaining a UK visa.

Problems were encountered by the German authorities in 2006 when they were faced with the prospect of having to let Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad enter the country.

The agreement states that the UK government should provide UK visas for entry into the country, along with exit permits “unconditionally and without restriction” to any FIFA-sanctioned person for eight years starting from May 2010.

These individuals must also be provided with UK work permits “unconditionally and without delay”. The FIFA-sanctioned individuals covered by the agreement include match officials, FIFA staff and subsidiaries, official delegates, broadcasters, commercial affiliates and sponsors and hospitality customers.

Hosting the World Cup is expected to cost the taxpayer as much as £300 million, but is also expected to generate large amounts of income for the UK.

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