As the dust settles on the latest round of FIFA World Cup bribing bidding, it's champagne all round at SNR Denton and a pint of whatever's left in the drip-tray at Bird & Bird.
Two Birds had been working on England's 2018 bid since early last year - and it has acted for the FA for ages. Hopes were high as the announcement approached last week but it was all for nothing. Russia - where football comes replete with crowd violence, racism and massive backhanders - ran away with it. Partners expecting mountains of free tickets for 2018 are no doubt gutted.
A spokesman for Bird & Bird said "we were delighted to work with England's team on Bid 2018 and clearly share the disappointment that the Bid was not successful. Our relationship with the FA, which is now over 20 years, remains strong and we look forward to supporting them on other initiatives."
But over at SNR Denton - where the paint's still drying above the door - it's hospitality boxes all round as the firm helped win it for Qatar, which will host the tournament in 2022. That's right, Qatar. That charming absolute monarchy where it's 50 degrees in the shade, political parties are banned and homosexuality is punished by the lash.
SNRD sent senior associate Romi Nayef out to Qatar during the process, who has since described the bid as "beautiful". Nayef continued "our approach to the bid was to take FIFA's requirements and meet every single requirement. We did not come with our ideas. We took FIFA's requirements and built around that."
FIFA's requirements? Well-stuffed brown envelopes, perhaps? Surely not.
Tip Off ROF
Two Birds had been working on England's 2018 bid since early last year - and it has acted for the FA for ages. Hopes were high as the announcement approached last week but it was all for nothing. Russia - where football comes replete with crowd violence, racism and massive backhanders - ran away with it. Partners expecting mountains of free tickets for 2018 are no doubt gutted.
A spokesman for Bird & Bird said "we were delighted to work with England's team on Bid 2018 and clearly share the disappointment that the Bid was not successful. Our relationship with the FA, which is now over 20 years, remains strong and we look forward to supporting them on other initiatives."
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That FIFA bidding process in full. Allegedly |
But over at SNR Denton - where the paint's still drying above the door - it's hospitality boxes all round as the firm helped win it for Qatar, which will host the tournament in 2022. That's right, Qatar. That charming absolute monarchy where it's 50 degrees in the shade, political parties are banned and homosexuality is punished by the lash.
SNRD sent senior associate Romi Nayef out to Qatar during the process, who has since described the bid as "beautiful". Nayef continued "our approach to the bid was to take FIFA's requirements and meet every single requirement. We did not come with our ideas. We took FIFA's requirements and built around that."
FIFA's requirements? Well-stuffed brown envelopes, perhaps? Surely not.