INSIDER World Cup Diary - Dirty Tricks Threaten World Cup Bid Race

(WFI) It seems as if one of the reasons that Foul!, football writer Andrew Jennings’ expose on the dealings of the "FIFA family", is a surprise bestseller in Sandton’s main bookstore is that delegates at yesterday’s 60th FIFA Congress were buying it as a companion to the main event.

Or perhaps there is some truth in the old publishers’ adage that people like reading about themselves.

While some of the biggest names in world football, including David Beckham and Andrei Arshavin, cut the breeze with the game's leaders, there was still room for some rather darker characters.

At least four of the individuals Jennings makes serious allegations about in his book – charges that include bribery, money laundering, debt-dodging and subterfuge – were seen working the floor of the congress, apparently as "bid consultants" to a couple of the teams vying to host the 2018 and 2022 finals.

One such figure, who has allegedly made a career from handing out bribes, was seen brazenly leading an influential FIFA Ex-co member to one of the European bid stalls.

A senior figure on a rival bid told INSIDER that he was well aware of some of the individuals present as well as their reputations, but said that it changed nothing.

"We’ll go on and continue fighting the good fight," he said.

All nine bidders vying to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup had exhibitsat the bid expo and tried to woo the 24 members of the FIFA Executive Committee who will decide the location of the two tournaments on Dec. 2.

Beckham was put to work as England 2018 launched its charm offensive.

As the event was closed to the media, the bid team was kind enough to send out separate photos of the England and LA Galaxy star talking or shaking the hands of at least eight FIFA Ex-co members, including AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam and UEFA chief Michel Platini. Bin Hammam said on Tuesday that the AFC would back a European bid for 2018.

For Russia, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was present to boost his country's campaign. He joined First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Arsenal's Arshavin and Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko at the event.

Meanwhile Sepp Blatter’s claims that all was well in the FIFA family belied an extraordinary confrontation on the conference floor.

A leading UEFA Ex-co member finally lost patience with the leader of a non-European bid for a perceived sense of "entitlement" and his constant toadying towards Blatter.

After telling him a few home truths, a lot of finger jabbing and snarling took place in front of shocked delegates. It ended with the Ex-co member "vowing" to make sure that not a single one of Europe’s eight precious FIFA Ex-co votes will be going the way of his bid.

Live and let live for England 2018

While some of the 2018/2022 bid teams threaten to bar critical media from accessing their national teams and bid committees – including INSIDER understands a national broadcaster which had planned on using a critic of a bid leader on a panel show – England2018 have a live and let live policy.

Yesterday, INSIDER spied a journalist from the Mail on Sunday – the English tabloid whose outrageous sting on former bid chairman David Triesman threatened to wreck England’s bid last month – deep in conversation with an England 2018 official.

A bid source says the team acknowledge that there was a distinction between what goes on in the front of the newspaper – where Triesman was doomed by its gutter journalism – and what goes in the back, where its sports reporters have a decent reputation.

Who could forget Benni?

FIFA Celebration Concert organizer Kevin Wall is a legend in the music world, but his knowledge of football seemingly has some gaps.

Asked prior to the concert if he could elaborate on which "iconic" footballers would be appearing, at first he was tight-lipped but then decided to reveal the name of one major South African player – which he then promptly forgot.

"One of the footballers who will be, er, in the event is a very famous South African footballer who will be the first footballer on the stage and, er, although I have dealt with him several times, and he’s great, I’m just lacking his name right now in the middle of this press conference, but I’ll let you know," said Wall.

He was, of course, referring to Benni McCarthy.

Bafana Bafana stars undone by "bad company"

McCarthy is a man in the news at the moment. The West Ham forward was a shock omission from the South Africa squad last month, supposedly for being overweight.

But it appears from South African tabloids that McCarthy was indulging in pleasures of a rather more carnal variety.

City Press newspaper reports that McCarthy was axed from the Bafana Bafana squad with goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez after CCTV footage allegedly showing the pair leading "some company" to their hotel rooms after the friendly tie against Columbia at Soccer City on May 27.

The footage subsequently came to the attention of South Africa manager Carlos Alberto Pereira, who yesterday refused to comment on the story.

World Cup in numbers

$150 million – the amount FIFA has set aside to cover the cost of hosting the next four FIFA Congresses and committee expenses over the same period.

Blatter watch

The FIFA president was almost giddy with excitement yesterday – as indeed many of us are here in South Africa – with the World Cup just hours away.

At the post-congress press conference, Blatter was asked about his legacy as FIFA president. Noting that the journalist asking him the question was also a distinguished author, an ebullient Blatter replied: "I hear you’re a good writer – perhaps you will write a book about it." Alas, the journalist’s response was not picked up by the microphone.

Weather in Johannesburg/Cape Town

Sunny with a high of 14°C in Jo'burg. Sunshine and clear skies in Cape Town with a maximum of 19°C

For continuing on the scene coverage of the World Cup, be sure to visit World Football Insider.

With reporting from James Corbett and Mark Bisson in Johannesbug.