Fifa corruption probe: Former Uefa chief says 2018 World Cup should go to England

England should be given the 2018 World Cup instead of Russia, the former Uefa president Lennart Johansson has said.

Johansson, who lost the 1998 Fifa presidential election to Sepp Blatter, says the 2018 and 2022 World Cup awards should be reviewed in the light of the new corruption charges.

Johansson, 85, speaking after seven Fifa officials including two vice-presidents were arrested by police in Zurich ahead of extradition proceedings to the USA, told Swedish newspaper Sportbladet: “I expect they will reconsider the (World Cup) decisions. Blatter himself has said that the decision to go east wasn’t proper. I am sure the initiative will now be taken to make a new decision.

“England haven’t had it since 1966 and it’s considered ‘the motherland of football’, whatever we might think. They are worthy of the attention.”

He added: “I’m not surprised at what is happening. Blatter will obviously ensure that he wins the election in his own way. I think it’s unfortunate that the world’s biggest sporting movement has such a leader at the top, I really do.”