Security News > 2011 > May > England 2018 chiefs hired undercover agents to spy on bid rivals
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/05/10/england-2018-chiefs-hired-undercover-agents-to-spy-on-bid-rivals-115875-23119513/ By Martin Fricker Daily Mirror 05/10/2011 ENGLAND football chiefs hired a team of spies to snoop on rival bidders for the 2018 World Cup, it was claimed yesterday. Undercover agents were paid by the FA to infiltrate Zurich hotels where Fifa committee members were staying last December and report what they learned. One FA spy even mingled with guests -- including Prince William, PM David Cameron and David Beckham, who were drafted in at the last minute to lobby for the bid -- in the cityâs Baur au Lac hotel. FA chiefs hired the spooks in a last-ditch bid to win the right to host the tournament, but the plan backfired and Englandâs £15million bid secured just two votes -- one from FA board member Geoff Thompson. The claims, from two unnamed officials close to the bidding process, will embarrass the FA and Mr Cameron, who has been critical of the âmurkyâ bidding process. He said: âI definitely had Fifa executives who looked me in the eye and shook my hand and said âdonât worry weâre with youâ.â The FA refused to comment Âofficially yesterday, but a 2018 official admitted to the Mirror: âYes, we had a private security team. [...]