England Still Angry Over World Cup Snub, London Mayor Rescinds Offer of Free Hotel Stay for FIFA Officials During Olympics

by Kyle Leathers on Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 9:41AM

FIFA officials who want to stay in London during the 2012 Olympics will have to pay for their rooms after all.

London mayor Boris Johnson had offered officials a free stay at the exclusive Dorchester Hotel when the city hosts the summer Olympics, but quickly rescinded the offer after the committee snubbed England for the 2018 World Cup, according to the BBC. The biggest event in soccer will be held in Russia that year.

England received just two out of the 22 votes last Thursday, losing out in the first round of voting. Russia won in the second round with 13 votes.

A government official told the BBC that England had been told that they'd receive at least five votes.

Mayor Johnson said after the results were announced that the committee’s decision was a "big blow and tremendously disappointing."

"We put together a cracking bid," Johnson added. "Our technical specification was top-notch and our stadiums would have been packed to the rafters."

But look on the bright side, London. At least you didn’t lose to Qatar.