Blatter says World Cup bid vote to go ahead as planned
Source: Agencies |
October 30, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FIFA will go ahead with the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding votes on December 2, despite the continuing probe into alleged bribery and collusion.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said yesterday the vote will proceed ahead as scheduled, but acknowledged that it may have been a mistake to combine the two World Cups into one bidding process.
"I am not convinced now that it was the right decision," Blatter said.
FIFA hoped to improve its financial strategy if sponsors and media rights holders bought a two-tournament package, but the tactic appears to have created more opportunities for corruption.
FIFA's executive committee will select the hosts for both tournaments by secret ballot in Zurich.
"There was never a question of changing anything in the procedure," Blatter said at a news conference after a two-day executive committee meeting.
Two executive committee members, Nigeria's Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti, are currently suspended after being accused of offering to sell their votes.
FIFA's ethics committee is to rule on both cases on November 17. The panel also is investigating Spain-Portugal and Qatar for alleged vote-trading.
Vying for the 2018 World Cup are England, Russia, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Holland. The 2012 candidates are Qatar, the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Delaying the vote could have disrupted bidders' plans to bring politicians and football greats for the final presentation to FIFA's ruling panel on December 1-2 - the climax of more than two years of campaigning and lobbying which has already cost millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, UEFA yesterday awarded Italy a 3-0 win and told Serbia it must play at least one home match behind closed doors following the flare-throwing crowd riot at a Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa.
UEFA also ordered the Serbian FA to refrain from ordering tickets for all away matches during the remainder of qualifying. The October 12 match was abandoned after six minutes when masked Serbian fans smuggled in flares and hurled them on to the pitch and at Italian supporters.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said yesterday the vote will proceed ahead as scheduled, but acknowledged that it may have been a mistake to combine the two World Cups into one bidding process.
"I am not convinced now that it was the right decision," Blatter said.
FIFA hoped to improve its financial strategy if sponsors and media rights holders bought a two-tournament package, but the tactic appears to have created more opportunities for corruption.
FIFA's executive committee will select the hosts for both tournaments by secret ballot in Zurich.
"There was never a question of changing anything in the procedure," Blatter said at a news conference after a two-day executive committee meeting.
Two executive committee members, Nigeria's Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti, are currently suspended after being accused of offering to sell their votes.
FIFA's ethics committee is to rule on both cases on November 17. The panel also is investigating Spain-Portugal and Qatar for alleged vote-trading.
Vying for the 2018 World Cup are England, Russia, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Holland. The 2012 candidates are Qatar, the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Delaying the vote could have disrupted bidders' plans to bring politicians and football greats for the final presentation to FIFA's ruling panel on December 1-2 - the climax of more than two years of campaigning and lobbying which has already cost millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, UEFA yesterday awarded Italy a 3-0 win and told Serbia it must play at least one home match behind closed doors following the flare-throwing crowd riot at a Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa.
UEFA also ordered the Serbian FA to refrain from ordering tickets for all away matches during the remainder of qualifying. The October 12 match was abandoned after six minutes when masked Serbian fans smuggled in flares and hurled them on to the pitch and at Italian supporters.
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