Blatter says awarding World Cup to 'too small' Qatar was a mistake
November 9 - Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has added his once powerful voice to criticism of Qatar's hosting of the World Cup by saying the decision there 12 was a mistake.
Blatter, now 86, led world football's governing body when Qatar won the tournament in 2010.
It is common knowledge that he voted for the United States, so Blatter's position may not be so surprising.
While the Gulf state has come under fire for its stance on same-sex relationships, its human rights record, and its treatment of migrant workers, it's important to note that Blatter was not referring to any of these elements in his widely reported comments.
Instead, he cited the fact that the Gulf state which is half the size of Wales was simply not big enough to handle FIFA's flagship event.
In an interview with Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger, he said Qatar was "too small a country" to host the tournament and that "football and the World Cup are too big for him. The choice of Qatar was a mistake."
The FIFA Executive Committee voted 14 to 8 for Qatar to host the tournament ahead of the United States, at the same time Russia won the 2018 event.
Blatter repeated the "wrong" comment on an upcoming BBC Power Play podcast series - The House of Sepp Blatter.
He blames UEFA President Michel Platini for swinging the vote in favor of Qatar.
"It was a bad choice and I was responsible for it as president at the time," Blatter said.
"Thanks to the four votes of Platini and his [UEFA] team, the World Cup went to Qatar instead of the United States. That's the truth."
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1668009580labto1668009580ofdlr1668009580owedi1668009580sni@w1668009580ahsra1668009580w.wer1668009580dna1668009580
"At the time, we did indeed agree in the executive committee that Russia would get the 2018 World Cup and the USA that of 2022. It would have been a gesture of peace if the two political opponents of long time had hosted one World Cup Cup after another."
Blatter spent 17 years as FIFA president before being banned from the game for the infamous 'unfair payment' of 2 million francs to Platini, who was also forced to resign as FIFA boss UEFA.
In his first talks since he and Platini were acquitted of fraud by Swiss courts in July, Blatter also struck a blow – not for the first time – at his nemesis and successor, Gianni Infantino, who lives currently part of the year in Qatar.
"What I wonder: why is the new FIFA President living in Qatar?" Blatter said. "He can't be the head of the local organization of the World Cup. It's not his job. There are two organizing committees for this - one local and one from FIFA." p>
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1668009580labto1668009580ofdlr1668009580owedi1668009580sni@w1668009580ahsra1668009580w.wer1668009580dna1668009580
November 9 - Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has added his once powerful voice to criticism of Qatar's hosting of the World Cup by saying the decision there 12 was a mistake.
Blatter, now 86, led world football's governing body when Qatar won the tournament in 2010.
It is common knowledge that he voted for the United States, so Blatter's position may not be so surprising.
While the Gulf state has come under fire for its stance on same-sex relationships, its human rights record, and its treatment of migrant workers, it's important to note that Blatter was not referring to any of these elements in his widely reported comments.
Instead, he cited the fact that the Gulf state which is half the size of Wales was simply not big enough to handle FIFA's flagship event.
In an interview with Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger, he said Qatar was "too small a country" to host the tournament and that "football and the World Cup are too big for him. The choice of Qatar was a mistake."
The FIFA Executive Committee voted 14 to 8 for Qatar to host the tournament ahead of the United States, at the same time Russia won the 2018 event.
Blatter repeated the "wrong" comment on an upcoming BBC Power Play podcast series - The House of Sepp Blatter.
He blames UEFA President Michel Platini for swinging the vote in favor of Qatar.
"It was a bad choice and I was responsible for it as president at the time," Blatter said.
"Thanks to the four votes of Platini and his [UEFA] team, the World Cup went to Qatar instead of the United States. That's the truth."
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1668009580labto1668009580ofdlr1668009580owedi1668009580sni@w1668009580ahsra1668009580w.wer1668009580dna1668009580
"At the time, we did indeed agree in the executive committee that Russia would get the 2018 World Cup and the USA that of 2022. It would have been a gesture of peace if the two political opponents of long time had hosted one World Cup Cup after another."
Blatter spent 17 years as FIFA president before being banned from the game for the infamous 'unfair payment' of 2 million francs to Platini, who was also forced to resign as FIFA boss UEFA.
In his first talks since he and Platini were acquitted of fraud by Swiss courts in July, Blatter also struck a blow – not for the first time – at his nemesis and successor, Gianni Infantino, who lives currently part of the year in Qatar.
"What I wonder: why is the new FIFA President living in Qatar?" Blatter said. "He can't be the head of the local organization of the World Cup. It's not his job. There are two organizing committees for this - one local and one from FIFA." p>
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1668009580labto1668009580ofdlr1668009580owedi1668009580sni@w1668009580ahsra1668009580w.wer1668009580dna1668009580
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