Qatar will host 2022 World Cup, says defiant Blatter

MANILA — A defiant FIFA President Sepp Blatter declared there was no moving the 2022 World Cup from Qatar, despite widespread concerns about the bidding process that took the tournament to the Middle East for the first time.

“2022, it is Qatar, and ladies and gentleman, believe me, with all that has been said around the world by whom? Those not involved with what happens in football. The World Cup in 2022 will be played in Qatar,” the 78-year-old Swiss told Asian Football Confederation members in Manila on Sunday.

The remarks, cheered and applauded loudly by Asian delegates, come as FIFA faces heavy criticism for not publishing a report by ethics investigator Michael Garcia into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Garcia’s findings were summarised in a 42-page statement published by FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert last week, which cleared the two winning bids, but which Garcia himself complained included misrepresentations.

FIFA has said it cannot publish the full report for legal reasons.

A report in British newspaper The Sunday Times said it had passed on a dossier revealing further allegations of corruption regarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, to a House of Commons committee and which were published on Saturday.

Blatter, however, appeared untroubled by the ongoing saga, taking the opportunity to throw his weight behind preparations for Qatar’s World Cup.

“It is the second time we will go to organise the World Cup in Asia. The first was a lovely combination, a co-hosting, between Japan and Korea Republic. It was a great success, a big success,” said the Swiss, who is seeking a fifth term as head of FIFA next year.

“But we have the next one. It will be the first time in the Arabic world but there is another competition that I would like to underline, the under-17 women’s tournament in 2016.

“For the first time... we are coming with women’s world cup in 2016 to Jordan. It is the trust and confidence of FIFA towards the Arabic world that they can organise all the competitions.”

Following the announcement, the Qatar Football Association were named winners of the AFC’s Dream Asia Award.

Meanhile, the head of the Qatar 2022 World Cup committee said on Sunday that the Gulf nation was already feeling the benefits of staging the tournament.

Hassan Al Thawadi also assured Asian Football Confederation members they too would also feel the positive effects of a first World Cup in the Middle East.

He said five stadiums were under construction and preparations were at an advanced stage for the event, but offered no insight into when the tournament will be staged, simply saying they continued to prepare for June and July.

He told AFC members at their awards night in Manila, also attended by Blatter, that the success of the Qatari national team in winning the Gulf Cup of Nations last week was evidence of the positive impact of the World Cup.

“The inspiration that 2022 provides is evident already with the achievements this year of our national teams at the AFC U-19 Championships and the Gulf Cup,” he said.

“We hope and believe that these are the first steps toward attaining the vision that 2022 can inspire in West Asia, in a similar manner that 2002 [in South Korea and Japan] inspired and invigorated football in East Asia.

“The significance of the event coming to our region for the first time must not be overlooked, but we recognise that this event is also a showcase for Asian football on the international stage.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that the potential of 2022 is fully realised and leaves a positive legacy for the region and the Asian continent as a whole.”

The awarding of the tournament has been shrouded in negativity, with the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments criticised amid accusations of corruption by individuals on FIFA’s executive committee, who opted for Russia and Qatar.

Both nations deny any wrongdoing.

Qatar has also come under fire for the working conditions of those building much of the World Cup infrastructure.

Thawadi said a report would be published next week on the implementation of “rigorous standards for the welfare of all” workers.

“These reports will serve as a basis for ensuring that our commitments to the welfare of those working on our projects are upheld, maintained and improved,” he said.

“The health, safety, security and dignity of every individual that contributes to building our event is of the utmost importance to us and we will continue to strive every day to ensure that these principles are upheld.”