Welsh cry foul over David Gill closing in on victory for Fifa vice-presidency

Wales believe that England have gone back on a 2011 agreement by the four home nations

David Gill, the FA vice-chairman, is standing against Welsh FA president Trefor Lloyd Hughes and is expected to win easily (AFP/Getty)

Claims that England have reneged on a written agreement that Wales should have the next British Fifa vice-presidency has cast a shadow over Tuesday’s election for the post.

David Gill, a Manchester United director and FA vice-chairman, is standing against Welsh FA president Trefor Lloyd Hughes and is expected to win easily.

However, Wales believe that England have gone back on a 2011 agreement by the four home nations, signed by the previous FA chairman David Bernstein.

Lloyd Hughes has made no secret of his unhappiness. “The agreement has nothing to do with Uefa or Fifa, it is between the four associations and the four associations have signed up to that.”

Gill claims the agreement became void after Fifa reforms which mean the British vice-presidency will be elected by all 54 Uefa members at the Vienna congress and not just the four home nations.

Gill said: “If there was a deal, that then changed after the reforms. It may be semantics but it previously was the British vice-president of Fifa. Now it’s Uefa electing a Fifa vice-president.”