JAKARTA - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted that choosing Qatar in 2010 to host the 2022 World Cup was a mistake. He called the Gulf state a bad choice.
This was conveyed by Blatter in an interview with Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger. This admission follows a number of controversies surrounding Qatar since it was first awarded the hosts.
"It's a country that's too small. Football and the World Cup are too big for the country," Blatter said of Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the tournament.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup is only a matter of days. However, allegations of corruption and human rights abuses in the country remain in the spotlight of many parties.
Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, was also involved in corruption charges during his tenure. He was acquitted of the charges by a Swiss court in June, but prosecutors have appealed the ruling.
Blatter said that FIFA in 2012 changed the criteria used to select the host country after reports emerged regarding the condition of migrant workers at construction sites of stadiums in Qatar.
"Since then, social considerations and human rights have been taken into account," he said.
Qatar World Cup will take place from November 20 to December 18. This is the second most prestigious event to be held in Asia after 2002 which took place in Korea and Japan.
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