Sports
2022 World Cup in Qatar ‘a mistake’ – Sepp Blatter
By Adeleye Kunle
Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, has admitted that the decision to award this month’s World Cup to Qatar was a “mistake”.
The 86-year-old was at the helm of the world football governing body when its executive committee voted for the tournament to be played in Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022 respectively.
Ahead of this year’s World Cup, there have been concerns about lowly-paid migrant workers and discriminatory laws against same-sex relations.
Blatter insists he didn’t vote for Qatar, but instead wanted a “gesture of peace” by having the two tournaments in Russia and then in the USA.
“The choice of Qatar was a mistake.
“At the time, we actually agreed in the executive committee that Russia should get the 2018 World Cup and the USA that of 2022.
“It would have been a gesture of peace if the two long-standing political opponents had hosted the World Cup one after the other,” Blatter said.
He added that Qatar is “too small a country” and “football and the World Cup are too big for that.
-
Sports6 days ago
FA Cup: Man Utd suffer fresh triple injury blow ahead Coventry clash
-
News6 days ago
Despite Apology, ABU Zaria Final-Year Law Student Arrested For Defaming Police Officer On Facebook
-
Business6 days ago
I met N13bn IGR per month but we are now seeing N27bn – Fubara
-
Politics6 days ago
SERAP To Govs, Wike: Account For Trillions Of FAAC Allocations
-
News4 days ago
Court orders Becky Buodeigha alias Becky Minaj, CEO of BM Secrets to pay Baraza N7m
-
Politics6 days ago
‘Ondo APC Guber Primary Result already written’ — Aspirant cries out, demands postponement
-
Business6 days ago
Invest in Bayelsa, Governor Diri tells Elders, leaders of the state
-
Politics4 days ago
EFCC: I am Ready to Appear in Court But Afraid of Arrest – Yahaya Bello