London, Sept 20 (ANI): FIFA President Sepp Blatter has claimed that political pressure from Europe resulted in members voting for Qatar to win rights of hosting the 2022 Soccer World Cup.
According to The Independent, Blatter, who has come under fire for the decision, claims there were 'direct political influences' involved in the decision, in what seems to be UEFA president Michel Platini.
The Frenchman is considering running for FIFA presidency when Blatter steps down, but he has had to defend his current position after he claimed he voted for Qatar to take the tournament to the Middle East for the first time and not due to pressure by then French president Nicolas Sarkozy in order to secure trade deals with Qatar, the report said.
Blatter said that a new, independent ethics commission had been set up to re-examine the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar.
Meanwhile, Platini strenuously denied that there was any political pressure put on him, despite being invited by Sarkozy to attend a dinner with Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, at the Elysee Palace ahead of the vote in 2010, the report added. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
