DIER STATE OF AFFAIRS

Eric: We cannot hide from reality at this World Cup

- SIMON MULLOCK

ENGLAND’S Eric Dier has made a passionate plea for the future of football to be placed into the hands of people who love the game.

As FIFA and the FA became embroiled in a stand-off about Harry Kane leading the Three Lions into the World Cup wearing a ‘OneLove’ armband as a statement against discrimination, the Tottenham defender admitted that politics have cast a dark shadow over the tournament.

Dier, 28, whose grandfather Ted Croker was secretary of the FA for 16 years, admitted he worries about the direction the game is taking.

The central-defender has educated himself on how migrant lives were sacrificed building the seven new stadiums that will stage the games in Qatar.

And his message about how power must be wrested away from the current decision-makers was loud and clear.