World Cup 2018 [Russia] & 2022 [Qatar] bids

Could have put this in the FIFA TATTERS Thread, but here it is.

Fifa boss Sepp Blatter sparks Qatar gay controversy

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says gay fans going to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal, should "refrain from sexual activity".

When asked if he foresaw any cultural problems, Blatter, apparently joking, said: "I'd say they [gay fans] should refrain from any sexual activities."

Then, speaking seriously, he said he was sure there would be no problems.

Gay rights groups, already unhappy at the choice of tournament venue, say he should apologise or resign.

Former basketball star John Amaechi is one of the world's most high-profile gay athletes, having come out in 2007.

He was highly critical of Blatter's comments, telling BBC Radio 5 live: "It's absurd.

"It's not about people having sex in public and being sanctioned for it, it's the fact that Qatar was one of 79 countries to sanction executing gays at the United Nations [where a vote in November removed sexual orientation from a UN resolution condemning extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions].

"One of the first things you notice is that it would actually be an insult to year seven students to say that their reactions, the giggling of grown men, sports reporters and members of Fifa, on this issue, when asked a perfectly simple and reasonable question given the worries about Qatar, that the whole room burst into laughter.

"It is the most childish response I could imagine.

"This does make it harder for footballers that are gay but let's not limit this.

"You have to understand that this story is big enough, his influence is big enough, to impact young people in school, people in workplaces, anybody who is perceived to be gay or is gay, hears these comments and once again realises that the seat of power, straight white men normally, are very, very clearly uncomfortable with this issue and certainly not interested in taking it seriously."

BBC sports news correspondent James Pearce says Fifa will make no further comment following Blatter's remarks on attitudes to homosexuality in Qatar.

"Fifa says Blatter gave all the clarification required in his press conference," said Pearce.

Qatar was the surprise winner of the race to host the 2022 World Cup, beating Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States when the 22-man Fifa executive committee voted in their favour in Zurich on 2 December.

Fifa has since come in for criticism after the decision to take the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time.

Concerns were raised about hosting the tournament during the summer months in a country where temperatures can reach 40C to 50C while current laws mean drinking alcohol in public is forbidden.

Gay groups are also worried about the acceptance of homosexual fans, and the Gay Football Supporters' Network (GFSN) say Blatter's comments show naivety about anti-gay discrimination and he should either apologise or resign from his post.

"Many LGBT [lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender] people live in countries where they would face execution or imprisonment if discovered, these people deserve our help, our respect and our support," said GFSN chair Chris Basiurski.

"They, like the rest of us, do not deserve to be laughed at. Mr Blatter should retract his remarks and apologise immediately. Otherwise, he should reconsider his position and resign.

"Mr Blatter is naive to think that by taking the beautiful game to Qatar, it will bring an end to discrimination in the Middle East.

"He says that football is 'everything for everyone' but he has not yet explained just how Fifa is going to ensure that LGBT football players and supporters will be welcome in Qatar."

But Blatter does not foresee any difficulties, saying: "You see in the Middle East the opening of this culture, it's another culture because it's another religion, but in football we have no boundaries.

"We open everything to everybody and I think there shall not be any discrimination against any human beings be it on this side or that side, be it left, right or whatever.

"If they want to watch a match somewhere in Qatar 2022, I'm sure they will be admitted to such matches."

Blatter says even if there are problems, there is still plenty of time to sort out any issues.

"I think there is too much concern for a competition that will be done only in 12 years," he added.

"But this gives me the opportunity to say that in Fifa, and this is in the statutes of Fifa, whether it is in politics, whether it is in religion, we don't want racism, and we know what this means, and neither do we want discrimination.

"What we want is just to open this game to everybody and open it to all cultures and this is what we are doing in 2022."

But Amaechi did not see the funny side of Blatter's "refrain from any sexual activities" comments, telling his official website: "The statements and the position adopted by Sepp Blatter and Fifa regarding LGBT fans who would pay the enormous ticket and travel prices to attend the World Cup in 2022 should have been wholly unacceptable a decade ago.

"Instead, with little more than an afterthought Fifa has endorsed the marginalisation of LGBT people around the world.

"Anything less than a full reversal of his position is unacceptable and if the FA and football and sporting associations around the world fail to acknowledge this insult, they too will be complicit.

"If sport cannot serve to change society, even temporarily during the duration of an event like the World Cup that invites the world to participate, then it is little more than grown men chasing a ball and we should treat it as such."

Blatter, who was visiting South Africa - the hosts of the 2010 tournament, insisted money had no part in taking the competition to new parts of the world.

Russia won the right to host the 2018 competition.

"This is development of football and don't speak about money," said Blatter.

"This has nothing to do with money as it had nothing to [do with it] with Africa.

"It is the development of the game. We have to take to places where it can improve and have a social and cultural impact. And it's what we did here in Africa."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9284186.stm

He needs to go. And he needs to go now. If this was any other President or employee they would be before a disaplinary board PDQ!

Fair Play and RESPECT! Yeh right.

Was just coming into post that same story. It's a complete sham, and just highlights the ridiculous decision to hold the cup there.

Blatter is a f**king fool, and he should have been out of the job a long time ago. I have no respect for FIFA at all these days and will not whilst a dinosaur like Blatter is in charge.

Oh and all you who think the World Cup in Qatar is a good thing to "further football in the region" - well that notion can F**k right off whilst the backwards sh*t of a nation can't accept the homosexual community.

Some hundreds Spartak Moscow fans joined by extreme right militants chanting "Russia for Russians" spent the december 11 afternoon rioting in the center of Moscow sending two dozen caucasian looking street merchants and tourists and as many policemen to the hospital after a spartak supporter was killed in a supporter battle. More than 1500 persons, rioters or caucasians suspected to want to retaliate were arrested as the police wanted to avoid new violences this week.

A Kyrgyz and an ouzbek migrant were killed in the incidents (police being suspected for one of the murders).

Look like a good place to organize a world cup.

If i was running the england bid i would go out my way to make sure fifa know if they pulled out of russia then england is capable of filling the void.

Blatter 'expects' winter Qatar World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said for the first time in public that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is likely to be held in January.

Speaking to a media roundtable in the Qatari capital before the opening match of the Asian Cup, he said: "I expect it will be held in the winter.
"We have time to look at this question, it is still 11 years away but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup which means January or the end of the year."

Summer temperatures in Qatar can soar to over 40 degrees Celsius while those in the winter months are far more comfortable.
Blatter said that the Qatari football association is now responsible for organising the World Cup and they would work closely with FIFA in the years ahead to guarantee a successful tournament.

"Do not forget there is still 11 years to go and although we have the basic conditions of their bid for a June and July World Cup, the FIFA executive committee is entitled to change anything that was in the bid.
"When you play football you have to protect the main people, the players."
When the decision was announced last month to award Qatar the 2022 finals - the first time the event has been held in the Middle East - many observers were concerned the intense temperatures there which can top 50 Celsius would be unbearable for players and fans alike.
In January, the temperatures are usually between 20 and 30 Celsius.

Any switch to winter, though, may take years to be agreed as it would clash with many of the domestic leagues - particularly the powerhouse European ones.

The Qatari FA has yet to establish its organising committee for the finals and, technically, it will be up to that committee to submit to FIFA a request to change the dates.

However, a switch could yet be prompted by FIFA itself.

Any move to winter could have a massive impact on other global sports with major events like the Winter Olympics and the Australian Open affected.
Blatter rebuffed suggestions that there was any corruption at FIFA, insisting it was totally transparent in all its dealings. Blatter was then asked how that could be the case if Qatar was awarded the finals when FIFA's own inspection team criticised its bid and said it posed a health risk.

"You can have the best report and the worst report but finally it's human beings that make the decision," he said.
He also repeated his pledge to continue taking the World Cup to new territories, citing India as a possible future host.
"Back in the 1980s when we started this process under Joao Havelange, it was always a wish to make football universal," he said.
"We have been to Africa and again it was time to go to new territories. It was all a strategy within the double decision for 2018 and 2022. It's a logical move."

Australia had bid against Qatar and Blatter admitted he had no idea why their bid only received one vote last month.
"I know they were shocked, bitterly disappointed, but I don't know why it happened," he said.

Blatter, who will be 75 in March, was elected FIFA president in 1998 and is standing for a fourth term as FIFA president later this year.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/07012011/58/world-cup-blatter-expects-winter-qatar-world-cup.html

Choosing Qatar clearly wasn't thought through properly.

Like it says in the article it'll impact the regular seasons in Europe and a lot of other places and other sporting events.

Choosing Qatar clearly wasn't thought through properly.

No thought in it the corrupt bas**rds were bought.

Choosing Qatar clearly wasn't thought through properly.

Like it says in the article it'll impact the regular seasons in Europe and a lot of other places and other sporting events.

Yeah, but in the summer it impacts regular seasons in South America, Russia, U.S. etc. And it's still 11 years away, other events can easily be scheduled around it.

Does feel wrong for me though, but mostly just because I prefer it being in the summer when I can have some days off and it's nice weather etc. But it could make a very interesting World Cup, imagine it being during the holidays, that would be pretty awesome.