Blatter cites legal block to another World Cup vote
Blatter said in a statement that “external legal experts” supported the view that “there are no legal grounds” to revoke the controversial vote in 2010 to award the World Cups to Russia and Qatar.
Fifa’s executive committee agreed unanimously that an “appropriate” form of the report into World Cup bidding by Michael Garcia, the ethics investigator who resigned earlier this week, should be published but with names and other details removed.
Officials at a meeting in Morocco agreed to the proposal without a vote being taken — but nothing will be published until the ethics committee charges against three FIFA ExCo members — Angel Villar Llona of Spain, Belgium’s Michel D’Hooghe and Thailand’s Worawi Makudi — have been dealt with.
Blatter said: “The famous Garcia report is no longer such a timely matter. At the current time, there is no reason to go back on our decisions. The decision of December 2010 stands.”
“We need to ensure that we respect the rules of our organisation and that we do not breach confidentiality in a way that will prevent people from speaking out in the future.
“The two World Cups are in the calendar, the only thing missing is the precise dates for 2022, but these two World Cups will take place,” said Blatter.
“It would really need an earthquake, extremely important new elements to go back on this World Cup in Qatar.”
American lawyer Garcia produced a 430-page report into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
He quit on Wednesday as Fifa’s ethics investigator after losing his appeal challenging the findings to clear Russia and Qatar to host the World Cups.
The Fifa ExCo meeting was given a presentation by Domenico Scala, the head of Fifa’s audit and compliance committee, who suggested the report should be published in an “appropriate form” — with all names and other details redacted.
This was agreed to by the members without a vote — though it is understood there were some strong views expressed questioning how much of the report should be made public.
Blatter said: “The report is about history and I am focused on the future. We will not revisit the 2018 and 2022 vote and a report by independent, external legal experts commissioned by Mr Scala supports the view that there are no legal grounds to revoke the executive committee’s decision on the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.”
FIFA also confirmed that a final decision on the timing of the 2022 World Cup will be taken in March — November/December 2022 remains the most likely time in order to avoid the extreme heat of the summer.
The last meeting of the task force looking at the dates will take place in Doha, Qatar, on February 23. The executive committee also supported the creation of an independent body to oversee a programme to improve workers’ rights in Qatar.
Blatter also took the opportunity to stress again that he would be standing for a fifth term of office on May 29 next year against as yet unknown definite opponents. “I trust in myself, otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “Probably you will see my name because I have been asked by a lot of national federations. Football needs leadership.”
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