FIFA has 'plan B' for 2010 World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed for the first time that there is a ’plan B’ for the host nation of the 2010 World Cup.

The tournament is due to take place in South Africa – the first World Cup to be staged in Africa – but concerns over continued security problems in the area have led to reports FIFA might look for new hosts.

However, while Blatter admits that there is an alternative in place, he remains confident the World Cup will go ahead as planned unless there is a “natural catastrophe”.

“I would be a very negligent president if I hadn’t put away in a drawer somewhere a plan B,” said Blatter.

“However, only a natural catastrophe would change things.

“If we had to activate the plan B, we would take our decision after the Confederations Cup.”

Next year’s Confederation Cup is set to be held in South Africa and will act as a dry run for the World Cup a year later.