The Treasury’s u-turn on taxing foreign football stars’ income when playing in the UK may pave the way for the 2018 World Cup coming to English shores.

‘Looking ahead, it’s great for the 2018 World Cup bid,’ said Wembley Stadium MD Alex Horne. ‘Hopefully it will set a precedent. I also think that we can now put in a bid for the 2011 Champions’ League final now this has been cleared up.’

The policymakers decided to back down on taking a cut of foreign players income in UK-based matches because of the threat of being left on the bench when football’s governing bodies made their choice for top level events.

Horne added: ‘It’s an entirely appropriate decision for the good of England and the economy.’