Blatter rules out January World Cup in Qatar
UPDATE: Sepp Blatter just tweeted the following after his meeting with Qatar's Emir:
Tweet 1
3 point mission to Qatar now complete: #1 reconfirmed to Emir & PM that 2022 #WorldCup will be played in Qatar (& NOT shared with anyone)
— Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) November 9, 2013
Tweet 2
#2 Discussed possible change to 2022 dates. Consultation process must continue, but Jan/Feb ruled out to avoid Winter Olympics clash
— Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) November 9, 2013
Tweet 3
#3 Received full report from authorities & BWI (Building & Wood Workers International) union on efforts to improve working conditions. (1/2)
— Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) November 9, 2013
Tweet 4
#3 continued - I really encourage people to see these efforts to improve working conditions themselves, before forming opinions. (2/2)
— Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) November 9, 2013
FIFA president Sepp Blatter ruled out a January World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and said on Friday November/December was the only alternative to a summer tournament.
"The FIFA World Cup can only be played in November/December 2022, no way it's going to take place in January/February," he told a news conference in Abu Dhabi.
"We have to see how we can have the FIFA World Cup played in winter, but only Nov/Dec are possible."
Last month, FIFA announced it would hold a consultation process involving clubs, leagues, players and continental federations to decide in which months of 2022 the tournament should be played.
At that point, world soccer's governing body had not ruled out any particular period of the year.
The International Olympic Committee is closely monitoring FIFA's deliberations, fearing a World Cup in January 2022 could encroach on the Winter Games that year.
FIFA said that, in principle, Qatar was awarded the World Cup on the basis that it would be staged in the summer despite the searing heat in the country.
Qatar has insisted that a summer World Cup is viable thanks to cooling technologies it is developing for stadiums, training areas and fan zones, but there is still widespread concern over the health of the players and visiting supporters.
Blatter, who will meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in Doha on Saturday, said he would discuss the situation of migrant workers in the country.
"We are very concerned about the situation of the workers in Qatar, though most of them are not related to the World Cup but to European entrepreneurs and companies," he said.
"I will report about this trip to the FIFA executive committee at our next meeting in December. Tomorrow (Saturday), I am leaving to Qatar to meet the Emir to discuss the current situation in Qatar."
Source: Reuters
Blatter, who will meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim, in Doha on Saturday, said he would discuss the situation of migrant workers in the country-Qatar should first understand the worker problems and salaries,we are facing issues with NOC since many years.still there is no initiative taken by Qatar.Betterment in life is not allowed in Qatar.The average salary received by workers from asia is 1K QAR.how long companies will hold employees with NOC's rather then good benefits.Please understand
@berdj Camaro Bribery? Who are you to make that assumption? First middle eastern country to host the world cup and you automatically assume its bribery or corruption? If Qatar did in fact bribe FIFA for hosting the world cup then you better believe that most, if not all, the other counties did the same and will continue to bribe long after the 2022. I am not Qatari or an Arab but this comment really annoyed me.
Pfff, I wonder how this country will be able to solve the labor issues.
Honorable Blatter, sir, all the works are in preparation for the World Cup; it is therefore related.
To give him some credit Brit, how many Heads of State and Ambassadors from labor exporting countries are raising the issue of workers rights and welfare with the Emir?
These countries happily turn a blind eye while hundreds of Asians die year after year. At least Blatter is trying to improve the situation, even if it is for his own selfish ends.
It is very important that the immigrant workers have been playing a huge role in building Qatar. Therefore authorities should focus more on their facilities whether the works related FIFA or not.
As i was talking to some of my friends....the media is raising concerns of the immigrant workers after the world cup being given to Qatar..the people against the wrold cup being held in Qatar are raising these issues..these issues were always there where was the media then ?
Blatter is a snake. He has manipulated the whole situation to ensure a winter world cup. As for his comments - "We are very concerned about the situation of the workers in Qatar, though most of them are not related to the World Cup but to European entrepreneurs and companies," . I wonder if he can prove that.
TFS