October 9 – Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has slammed the unprecedented decision to hold the 1930 World Cup in six countries across three continents and five time zones.
Morocco, Spain and Portugal were named last week as main hosts, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will stage the opening three matches to mark the tournament’s centenary.
Blatter, now 87, famously ran FIFA from 1998 to 2015 before being banned and forced out in disgrace as part of the FifaGate scandal. But his views still carry considerable sway amongst his supporters.
“It is absurd to tear the tournament apart in this way,” Blatter told Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick.
“The World Cup finals must be a compact event,” he added, warning the tournament risked losing its identity.
FIFA insists that the fact the vast majority of games would be held in Morocco, Portugal and Spain, will reduce any negative environmental impact of the tournament though environmentalists will take some convincing.
“For 101 games, the tournament will be played in a footprint of neighbouring countries in close geographic proximity and with extensive and well developed transport links and infrastructure,” FIFA said.
“Three games will take place in South America, also in neighbouring countries in close geographic proximity to mark the 100th year of the tournament.”
Blatter believes strongly that the 2030 tournament should take place in its entirety in South America to mark the100th anniversary of the first event that was hosted and won by Uruguay.
“For historical reasons, the 2030 World Cup should have belonged exclusively in South America,” he said.
In 2015, Blatter and former UEFA chief Michel Platini were both banned from football for eight years over claims the former had unlawfully paid the Frenchman CHF 2 million in 2011.
The bans were later reduced – and last year the pair were cleared of corruption charges by a federal criminal court in Switzerland. Blatter always claimed the payment followed a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ made between them when Platini agreed to become his advisor after the 1998 World Cup in France.
Another aspect of the 2030 decision is that whilst Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay experience winter in June and July, it is summer in Morocco, Portugal and Spain, meaning some countries could face entirely different climates in a matter of days. It also, of course, promises to be a logistical nightmare for fans – whatever FIFA may say about inclusivity.
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