Sepp Blatter, who served as FIFA president from 2010 to 2011, when Qatar was given the rights to host the 2022 World Cup, has told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger that “Qatar is a mistake,” and that “the choice was bad.”
Sepp Blatter admits awarding Qatar the World Cup was a mistake 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/gR7WtoSzJv
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 8, 2022
Since it was first announced, the Qatar decision has been surrounded by controversies, including allegations of corruption and abuses of human rights.
Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, has also been embroiled in accusations of corruption during his tenure.
He was cleared of fraud by a Swiss court in June. The prosecutors have appealed the ruling.
What Did Sepp Blatter Say About The Qatar FIFA World Cup?
“It is too small of a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for it,” Blatter said of Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the tournament.
He said FIFA amended the criteria it used to select host countries in 2012 in light of concerns over the working conditions at tournament-related construction sites in Qatar.
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“Since then, social considerations and human rights are taken into account,” he said.
Meanwhile, Blatter revealed he will be watching the tournament, which kicks off in less than two weeks, from his home in Zurich.
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