Blatter comments on 2018 World Cup bid upset FIFA Executive Committee

January 27 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) is coming under pressure to backtrack on his claim that only European nations may be considered as hosts for the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA’s original bidding rules stated countries could bid for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments simultaneously as they are being voted on at the same time in December.

Blatter has now hinted that 2018 would be reserved for countries from Europe – the bidders are England and Russia, and joint bids from Spain and Portugal and Netherlands and Belgium.

The remark has caused uproar, especially in Australia and to an extent in the United States, who were also bidding for 2018 and 2022.

The view among the FIFA Executive Committee – who agreed the bidding policy – is that Blatter was speaking off the cuff.

One FIFA executive committee said: “I think it is very unlikely the rules will be changed at this stage.

“It would be unfair on those countries who have been operating for some months now with bids for 2018 and 2022.

“It would need a FIFA Executive Committee decision to change the policy and I don’t think there is an appetite for that.”

Blatter’s controversial remarks came during a visit to Spain when he confirmed UEFA president Michel Platini had pushed the idea of Europe only for 2018.

Blatter said: “From what I’ve discussed with the President of UEFA, Michel Platini, in the last few days, is that only a European candidate will be evaluated for the 2018 World Cup.

“It’s still not decided, but it’s an idea to help facilitate the work of FIFA and its Executive Committee.

“There is a movement at the moment among the various candidates that in the end it would be a good solution …if the candidates for 2018 would only be those from Europe.

“It would also possibly make the work of the different organisations applying for the World Cup easier.”

Football Federation Australia have tried to remain diplomatic in the eye of the storm and have insisted that, as far as they are concerned, they are continuing to bid for both 2018 and 2022.

A statement said: ”In response to recent comments by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, FFA confirms it has been aware for some time that there is a push for the 2018 World Cup to be awarded to one of the European bidders.

“Hence FFA is not surprised by the President’s comments as they are reflective that those discussions have occurred in some quarters.”

Even Kevin Rudd, Australia’s Prime Minister, has been drawn into the debate.

He said: ”It’s still a long, long way to go until December this year, but we’re working our hearts out.

”Mate, if I didn’t think that we had a chance I wouldn’t be sinking $46 million (£25 million) of the taxpayers’ money into it and what I do know for a fact is you got to be in it to win it.”