FIFA defend 'Political' decisions
Tue 7th Dec 2010 | FIFA
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has defended the world body’s “political” decisions to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 event to Qatar.
“It’s a political decision to open up onto the world. It was the same thing with (2010) hosts South Africa,” said Valcke.
“We have eight years till Russia hosts it with a huge commitment on the part of Putin and 12 for Qatar, who have huge resources,” said Valcke in response to questions as to the technical merits of the two countries, which FIFA did not find to be on the same level as those of 2018 candidate England.
Valcke admitted that “as regards the heat in Qatar, the fears are legitimate but there will be air conditioning systems. Qatar will do everything necessary so that nothing is to the detriment of either the players or anyone else.
“Russia deserves it and Qatar will be an interesting story. The Middle East is part of the football family,” indicated Valcke.
There have been complaints that the voting system aids collusion and secrecy and is in need of a complete overhaul, but Valcke insisted: “It is normal for there to be a secret ballot. If there is to be a reform of the voting system then it will be for the executive committee to decide.”
He added that FIFA “has nothing to blush about.”
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