Beckham urges support before World Cup inspection

LONDON (AFP) – David Beckham urged English football fans Thursday to show their support for the country’s bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup by getting involved in events aimed at impressing a FIFA inspection team.

The LA Galaxy midfielder threw his weight behind “Back the Bid Week”, which will see a series of events held around the country, and flags and banners put up at football grounds to show the country’s desire to stage the tournament.

The delegation from FIFA arrives on Monday for the four-day visit to assess England’s bid.

“The support we have had for the bid from the public over the past year has been incredible,” said the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star.

“I’ve no doubt that fans from all over the country will unite and show the FIFA inspection team the type of passion and festival of football we could create if we staged the world’s greatest sporting event.”

“Back the Bid Week” gets under way on Thursday, with events taking place in 12 cities across the country to boost England’s chances of staging the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

Beckham, who launched the bid in May 2009 and is vice president of the team trying to bring the tournament here, made the appeal after his international career was brought to an abrupt end by England coach Fabio Capello last week.

The Italian was roundly criticised for using a TV interview to tell the former captain that he was too old to feature in the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers.