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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ex-MI6 man Steele hired for England World Cup bid | Ex-MI6 man Steele hired for England World Cup bid |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The ex-MI6 officer believed to be behind the Trump memos was hired by England's 2018 World Cup bid team. | The ex-MI6 officer believed to be behind the Trump memos was hired by England's 2018 World Cup bid team. |
| It is understood Christopher Steele gathered information on football body Fifa and other countries bidding to host the tournament, mainly Russia. | It is understood Christopher Steele gathered information on football body Fifa and other countries bidding to host the tournament, mainly Russia. |
| Mr Steele was hired through the London-based company he co-founded, Orbis. | Mr Steele was hired through the London-based company he co-founded, Orbis. |
| The England football connection comes after Mr Steele was named author of a series of papers containing allegations about US President-elect Donald Trump. | The England football connection comes after Mr Steele was named author of a series of papers containing allegations about US President-elect Donald Trump. |
| Mr Trump has dismissed the unverified claims that Russian security officials have compromising material about him as "fake news" and "phoney stuff". | Mr Trump has dismissed the unverified claims that Russian security officials have compromising material about him as "fake news" and "phoney stuff". |
| It is not yet known whether Mr Steele's intelligence on the 2018 World Cup brought about an investigation into alleged corruption within Fifa, but he did report his findings to the Eurasian crime department of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). | It is not yet known whether Mr Steele's intelligence on the 2018 World Cup brought about an investigation into alleged corruption within Fifa, but he did report his findings to the Eurasian crime department of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). |
| US officials have said that because the FBI knew of Mr Steele, the Trump dossier gained "credence", according to news agency Reuters. | US officials have said that because the FBI knew of Mr Steele, the Trump dossier gained "credence", according to news agency Reuters. |
| Additional credibility | Additional credibility |
| According to evidence provided by the Sunday Times to the Commons' culture select committee in November 2014, Mr Steele was commissioned by the World Cup bid team because officials "wanted to better understand what they were up against". | According to evidence provided by the Sunday Times to the Commons' culture select committee in November 2014, Mr Steele was commissioned by the World Cup bid team because officials "wanted to better understand what they were up against". |
| Russia successfully bid for the 2018 tournament, with Qatar earning the right to host the 2022 World Cup. | Russia successfully bid for the 2018 tournament, with Qatar earning the right to host the 2022 World Cup. |
| The Swiss authorities are currently investigating claims of bribery and wrongdoing in the bidding processes for both competitions. | The Swiss authorities are currently investigating claims of bribery and wrongdoing in the bidding processes for both competitions. |
| BBC sport correspondent Richard Conway said the fact Mr Steele had worked for the England World Cup bid shed light on the lengths rival countries go to to host the tournament. | |
| He said holding the World Cup was an enormous prize that goes "beyond the world of football" adding it was about commerce, international trade and the prestige of having it played within the country. | He said holding the World Cup was an enormous prize that goes "beyond the world of football" adding it was about commerce, international trade and the prestige of having it played within the country. |
| Our correspondent said it could be assumed that it was perhaps not just England that was seeking intelligence on the other bidders. | |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the UK's former ambassador to Russia, Sir Andrew Wood, said Mr Steele was a "very competent, professional operator". | |
| "I do not think he would make things up, I do not think he would necessarily always draw correct judgment but that is not the same thing at all," he told the programme. | |
| 'Dangerous knowledge' | |
| Sir Andrew said the Republican Senator, John McCain, had approached him at a conference in November about the truthfulness of the allegations made in the report. | |
| The document had been seen by a number of people in Washington at this time but Mr McCain was yet to read it, he said. | |
| Sir Andrew was aware of what was in the report, and the two central accusations made within it, he said, but he had also not seen it and has not since. | |
| "I do not know who spoke to Chris and I had not wanted to talk about it before because Chris's name was not out there," he added. | |
| "But it is a suggestion that was given certain colouration by the way Trump talked about the hacking exercise and about the stories of his treatment of women. | |
| Sir Andrew said it was something Mr McCain thought had to be taken seriously and followed up on. | |
| International relations undamaged | |
| Sir Andrew told the BBC he was not surprised that Mr Steele had gone into hiding as the ex-MI6 officer had information that was "dangerous knowledge". | |
| "Russia would like to know where he got his information from assuming this information is basically true, and he has not just made it up, which I do not believe for a moment. | |
| "And they are accustomed to taking action." | |
| Sir Andrew dismissed suggestions Mr Steele's role in compiling the memo would compromise the UK's relationship with the US and Russia. | |
| "An effort to get at the truth can never be damaging. It is much better to know things and be open about them than to pretend they do not exist," Sir Andrew said. |