Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Tuesday, November 8, claimed that the football body made a big mistake by awarding Qatar the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosting rights.
Blatter, who was at the helm of FIFA at a time when Russia and Qatar were awarded the 2018 and 2022 hosting rights, told a Swiss outlet that the Arab nation is too small to stage the global tournament.
“At the time, we actually agreed in the executive committee that Russia should get the 2018 World Cup and the USA that of 2022.
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"It would have been a gesture of peace if the two long-standing political opponents had hosted the World Cup one after the other.
“It is too small a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for that," he told Tages-Anzeiger.
Blatter further disclosed that he did not vote for Qatar during the 2010 controversial polls.
He claimed that he wanted Russia and the United States, which have not seen eye to eye for decades, to host the tourneys to promote peace.
The eagerly anticipated event is scheduled to take place between Sunday, November 20 and Sunday, December 18.
Hosts Qatar will play the tournament's first match against Ecuador at 7 pm East African Time at Al Bayt Stadium.
The tent-like stadium, which is the biggest in Qatar, boasts ultra-modern cooling technology and a retractable roof. It has a capacity of 60,000.
Blatter was forced to resign seven years ago due to corruption-related reasons. The 86-year-old is currently serving a ban until 2028 for violating FIFA’s ethical codes.
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