PM pledges visa waiver for FIFA officials

The English bid for the 2018 football World Cup will see a temporary suspension of the usual immigration controls, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown stating that officials from football’s governing body would be exempt from checks.

The incumbent government is taking every step possible in the lead up to the decision over who will be awarded the hosting rights for the event, and Brown’s pledge is seen as part of an ongoing strategy to bolster public opinion in the Labour government ahead of next year’s election, where immigration will play a crucial role in the outcome. The latest announcement is expected to win votes on both counts.

FIFA has made a range of requests for guarantees for the handling and ease of operation for their officials should England win the World Cup bid, with Gordon Brown signing off on the far-reaching demands earlier on Tuesday this week. Included amongst the requests, which the government has agreed to meet on all points, are assurances over taxes, security and of course immigration control. The incentive package is believed to cost an estimated £300 million to UK taxpayers. To ensure that there is full commitment with the guarantee document Brown has also stated that the government will enact special laws, ordinances and regulations for FIFA.

The most notable clause in the document will see all FIFA officials, along with partners and sponsors exempt from the usual border controls which govern British immigration. This may provoke reaction in some quarters given the history of asylum seeking, defections and disappearances in large sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games. FIFA staff and associates will also be exempt from any expenditure or income related taxes for the duration of the tournament.