By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – The head of Japanese football has been forced into an embarrassing apology to the Qataris for suggesting his country could step in as replacement host for the 2002 World Cup.
Earlier this month Japan, one of the four countries trounced by Qatar at the vote in December, 2010, reportedly declared it would be ready to stage the tournament if FIFA strips Qatar of hosting rights – even though there is no indication that is likely to happen. The comments were made by Japan Football Association (JFA) president Kuniya Daini, whose country co-hosted the 2002 tournament with South Korea.
But in a letter to the Qatar FA, seen by INSIDEworldfootball, Daini insists he fully supports the decision to stage the tournament in the Gulf and attempts to blame a news agency reporter for misinterpretation.
In the letter to QFA boss Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al Thani, Daini states: “It is a fact and a decision by FIFA that [the] 2022 FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar. We, Japan Football Association, fully support the hosting by Qatar with confidence that it will lead to further development of football in Asia. You will have our full support for the success of the biggest event in football.”
Although there is also an ongoing investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process headed by FIFA ethics committee investigator Michael Garcia, it is unlikely it will lead to either Qatar or 2018 hosts Russia being stripped.
Daini insists he never said that Japan, which traditionally prides itself on sporting politeness and diplomacy in public, was prepared to step in. “This was a false statement and I regret to say the article was made up intentionally,” he writes though without explaining why it would be deliberately fabricated. “It is with deep regret that the article… was not based on the facts or actual remarks I made during the interview.
“At the same time I wish to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or misunderstanding this may have caused to you and all the other concerned parties.”
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