Roy Hodgson calls FIFA corruption allegations 'very disturbing'

Sepp Blatter has told FIFA's annual congress he had no way of monitoring

England manager Roy Hodgson has described the corruption allegations against FIFA as "very disturbing".

In scenes which have shocked and angered world football, the organisation was plunged into crisis after a wave of arrests of football officials including two FIFA vice-presidents in Zurich on Wednesday on bribery, fraud and money laundering charges following an FBI investigation.
And Hodgson admitted that, as a lover of football, he has been saddened by the apparent extent of the scandal.
"It is very disturbing," he said. "Whenever clear signs of corruption have taken place at the very highest level, how can any football lover not be disappointed about that? But what should and will happen (now), I will stay away from that.
"I will leave that to (Football Association chairman) Greg (Dyke) and to the FIFA executive committee and they can get on with it because at my particular level, I work in a football team, it doesn't affect me.

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"But as a football lover it affects me and it is very saddening...one hopes desperately that measures will be taken to make certain it doesn't happen again."
As well as the American probe into FIFA, the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar will also be scrutinised by the Swiss government.
England bid to host the 2018 World Cup, and FA officials have indicated they could step in if the tournament is taken away from Russia, but that is highly unlikely, with FIFA insisting throughout the week that the next two World Cups will go ahead as planned in Russia and Qatar.

UEFA president Michel Platini flew into Zurich on Thursday and personally told his old friend Sepp Blatter the time had come to step down

Dyke said recently the FA would only be interested in bidding for the World Cup in the future if FIFA president Sepp Blatter steps down, and Hodgson doubts England will get to host the tournament again any time soon.
"(It's) a remote (possibility). Who knows where this is going to go but I would be a little bit surprised if this happens within the next couple of years," Hodgson added.
"We could (host a World Cup). It is a very hypothetical question.
"But if you're asking the question - when the next World Cup comes to England, which I am sure it will - I don't know if it will be because of the situation that has developed now - but I know we will get a World Cup again and I know one thing; when the World Cup comes here it will be a fantastic experience because the passion for football in England is still second to none.
"Football sells everything in this country. We are a football-mad country in the same way that Italy is and the same way Brazil is.
"I seriously believe we are as passionate (as Italy and Brazil) about our football."