By AVI CREDITOR
The adverse reactions to Thursday's decisions by FIFA haven't lost any steam a day later, with the chief of England's 2018 bid strongly speaking out against the world's governing body of soccer.
Andy Anson expressed his opinions of FIFA's decision-making process, calling for reform in the aftermath of England's first-round elimination in Thursday's vote during a press conference on Friday.
"I would say right now don't bother (bidding) unless you know the process is going to change," Anson said. "When there are only 22 guys that gives them too much influence."
He continued: "When you have the best technical bid, fantastic inspection visits, the best economic report, and, from what people told us, the best presentation, it's quite hard to stomach that all that seemed to count for absolutely nothing."
Here are a few more stories to carry you over to the weekend:
SANTOS TAKES FIRST LEG OF MEXICAN FINAL
An own goal in the 86th minute by Duilio Davino snapped a 2-2 tie and handed Santos a 3-2 victory over Monterrey and the upper-hand after the first leg of the Mexican league championship Thursday night.
Santos twice took one-goal leads only to have the visitors battle back to level the score. Jorge Estrada and Darwin Quintero tallied goals for Santos, while Humberto Suazo and Neri Cardozo scored for Monterrey, which hosts the return leg on Sunday.
WEATHER AFFECTING WEEKEND GAMES IN UK
The Manchester United-Blackpool fixture slated for Saturday has been postponed on account of the pitch at Bloomfield Road being frozen.
So far, that's the only Premier League game in England that has been forced to be rescheduled, though six matches on the Scottish Premier League slate – including Rangers match against Hearts of Midlothian – have been postponed as well. It marks the second time in as many weeks that Rangers has had a league match rescheduled.
Many matches in the lower divisions of England and Scotland have also been pushed off.
HOUSTON SECURES DOWNTOWN STADIUM DEAL
The Houston Dynamo had their plan for a downtown stadium unanimously approved on Thursday, getting the green light from the Harris County-Harris Sports Authority to go forward with the project, which is expected to take 16 months to complete.
The stadium is scheduled to open ahead of the 2012 Major League Soccer season, and it will cost the Dynamo $76 million to build. The city of Houston and Harris County will reportedly own the stadium, and the Dynamo have agreed to lease the site for $65,000 a year, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Texas Southern University will also play its football games at the new venue, which will reportedly not cost taxpayers any money to have built.
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What do you think of Anson's comments? Do you see Monterrey coming back to win the Mexican league final? Disappointed that many of the weekend's games in the UK are being cancelled? Excited for the new stadium to open in Houston?
Share your thoughts below.