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 "How could England have only got two votes? It was a big
surprise," Mayne-Nicholls was quoted as saying in The Sunday Times.
The 53-year-old, a former Chilean football federation president, was
chairman of a FIFA group tasked with assessing the strength and
feasibility of the various bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup
finals.
Having visited all 11 countries bidding, Mayne-Nicholls concluded
that England had the best infrastructure and public involvement,
crucial facets of any successful bid.
The bid, however, received just two votes from a possible 22 with
Russia winning the right to host the 2018 tournament. Qatar secured
the 2022 Cup.
"England were on the top. They had the best concept, the best
infrastructure and the people were very much involved," said
Mayne-Nicholls.
"I was there and I saw the faces of Prince William and (David)
Beckham, and they were shocked. It's like when you are a first
division team and you play a third division team and you lose by
five goals."
Mayne-Nicholls has previously raised concerns about Qatar, whose bid
was the only one labeled as high risk by the evaluation committee
due to the searing heat.
He again questioned the logistical issues raised by hosting the
tournament in one city and said the transport and infrastructure
would not be able to cope with the deluge of fans flocking to the
tournament.
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"It is a real possibility that lots of people cannot get to the
games," Mayne-Nicholls.
On Friday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced the world body
would publish, "in an appropriate form", a 430-page report compiled
by former ethics investigator Michael Garcia which explored claims
of bribery in the bidding process.
Mayne-Nicholls said last month he would decide in the New Year
whether to stand for FIFA presidency against Blatter. FIFA rules
prevent campaigning before Jan. 29 with the election set for May 29.
(Reporting By Tom Hayward, editing by Alan Baldwin)
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