FIFA has moved quickly to deny claims its president, Sepp Blatter, suggested Qatar is unfit to host the 2022 World Cup — despite his admission that it was “a mistake” to schedule a summer tournament in the Gulf State.
Blatter, who oversees the game’s global governing body, appeared to cast doubt over Qatar’s right to welcome the football world, following an interview with a Swiss television station Friday.
When asked by RTS if it was an error to award Qatar the World Cup, Blatter said: “Of course, it was a mistake. You know, one makes a lot of mistakes in life.
2022 World Cup in Qatar2022 World Cup in Qatar
Blatter: A controversial leaderBlatter: A controversial leader
“The technical report indicated clearly that it was too hot in summer, but despite that the executive committee decided, with quite a big majority, that the tournament would be in Qatar.”
In October 2013, Blatter set up an executive committee taskforce to examine whether the World Cup in Qatar should be switched to winter because of extreme summer temperatures.
A decision is expected to be made following the conclusion of the upcoming World Cup in Brazil.
Blatter’s comments sparked a frenzy on social media and led to criticism of the 78-year-old and the organization’s decision to award the tournament to Qatar.
But speaking to CNN, a FIFA spokesman said: “The comment by the FIFA President concerning the organization of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to Swiss TV station RTS is in line with previous comments on this matter.