Pound is first to raise World Cup defeat
Shadow Northern Ireland minister and fanatical Fulham FC fan Stephen Pound became the first to break the news to the Commons.
On a point of order just before 4pm he raised the "tragic news from Zurich" that England had failed to win their bid for the 2018 World Cup.
He asked if there is a mechanism by which this "sad information can be disseminated" among MPs.
Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans, who is more of a rugby fan, reflected that the country is suffering under sub-zero temperatures with people cut off in their homes and facing travel chaos.
He said he had wondered "what piece of news would depress me more" and joked it was typical of his friend Pound to be the bearer of it.
Evans said the whole House wishes Russia well on their win and thanked the prime minister, David Beckham, Prince William and the rest of the presentation team who tried to secure the World Cup for England.
"Football's not coming home," he told MPs.
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