A World Cup in England could mean alcohol bans on match days after the riots that occurred in Manchester on Wednesday. FA officials saw television pictures this week of Rangers fans fighting with police and leaving a trail of destruction through the city just as they were embarking on the campaign to bring the 2018 World Cup to England.

While FA executives are confident that the world believes that the “English disease” of football hooliganism is cured, the shocking images of the violence surrounding the Uefa Cup final did little to help their case. Lord Triesman, the FA chairman, has refused to comment publicly, but has made it known privately that he was disgusted by what he saw.

The violence in Manchester will serve only to sharpen his discussions with the Government about the 2018 bid. Security and safety will be paramount and talks will come at a time when Gordon Brown is considering whether bans on alcohol should accompany important matches in future.

Lord Triesman is said to be ready to examine the case for a ban, but is keen not to put a dampener on the carnival atmosphere that accompanies World Cup fixtures, particularly because the FA is keen to ask British cities to bid to host matches. Instead of simply choosing the biggest stadiums, the FA is likely to ask clubs and cities to come forward with a joint approach.

Bristol City, Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest have been in discussions because all three are building new grounds and are in locations that will tie in with FA ambitions to give a World Cup the widest geographical spread. The World Cup of 1966, the only time it has been held in England, ignored the south and west of the country. With Wembley the only guaranteed venue for the 2018 World Cup if England win the bid, nine cities could cash in on the economic boom if they were selected as host venues.