By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says Qatar should be stripped of the 2022 World Cup as a result of the latest FIFAgate revelations, with the United States best-placed to step in as replacement hosts.
Blatter was one of those who voted for the US at the 2010 ballot and was as surprised as anyone when the Gulf state emerged victorious, prompting all manner of rumours and allegations about vote-buying in the years since.
Qatar has long maintained steadfastly that it behaved without reproach and was in fact cleared of any wrongdoing, along with 2018 hosts Russia, by a FIFA report six years ago.
But Blatter, speaking to German publication Bild, said fresh corruption charges brought forth last week by the US justice department which pointed the finger at three voting members – Jack Warner, Ricardo Teixeira and Nicolás Leoz – for allegedly taking bribes had completely changed the landscape.
Refering to the joint 2026 hosting by the United States, Canada and Mexico, Blatter suggested that could be formally moved forward rather than a second successive World Cup being staged in Europe.
“Germany could do it. But this would mean the World Cup being staged in Europe again after 2018,” Blatter said.
“Europe therefore would not be first choice. Japan is also a possibility, but I am thinking of the United States. They are already organising the 2026 edition and already have the experience of 1994. They are capable, it’s not rocket science!”
“Fortunately, the 2022 World Cup will only have 32 teams and not 48 as [FIFA president Gianni Infantino] had planned. The organisational effort would not be bigger than 2018.”
Blatter’s comments are unlikely to be taken too seriously by the current FIFA hierarchy. For a start, if only the United States hosted in 2022, Mexico and Canada would miss out. Secondly, the 2026 bid would almost certainly have to be reopened.
Then there is the question of the calendar with the first ever winter World Cup scheduled for November 21-December 18, 2022.
Plus, of course, precedent or lack of it. The last time a World Cup was moved was back in 1986 when Colombia had to drop out for economic reasons and the tournament handed to Mexico.
Finally, the newly released charges do not specify who was behind the alleged bribery involving Warner and the other one-time FIFA dignitaries with Qatar’s supporters insisting the country remains innocent until proven guilty.
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