/ 12 March 1999

BOOST FOR ENGLAND’S 2006 HOPES

ENGLAND’S hopes of hosting the 2006 World Cup received a boost on Thursday when shareholders approved the sale of Wembley stadium to a subsidiary company of the English Football Association (FA). The 103-million deal with paves the way for a 320-million redevelopment of the stadium. Another boost followed when Fifa spokesperson Keith Cooper confirmed that the Fifa executive committee had accepted an invitation to dine with Prince Charles and princes William and Harry on the eve of the FA Cup final. The 24-man executive committee will decide next March who will host the 2006 World Cup, for which South Africa is also bidding along with Germany, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco and Brazil.