SYDNEY: Australia’s football chief today admitted the nation’s push for the 2018 World

Cup was in jeopardy,

after FIFA president Sepp Blatter indicated preference would likely be given to a European bid.

Blatter said this week there was a “movement at the moment among the various candidates” for 2018 eligibility to be limited to bidders from Europe, according to widely published reports. The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) said it had been aware “for some time” that a Europe-only deal was being considered by FIFA, the sport’s governing body.

“Hence FFA is not surprised by the president’s comments as they are

reflective that those discussions have occurred in

some quarters,” it said in a statement. But FFA chairman Frank Lowy said Australia remained committed to its 2018 bid until convinced otherwise.