FIFA President Makes Stunning Statement On Giving Qatar The 2022 World Cup: 'Of Course It Was A Mistake'
Clive Rose/Getty Images
His full quote (as translated by the Guardian):
"Of course, it was a mistake. You know, one makes a lot of mistakes in life.
"The technical report indicated clearly that it was too hot in summer, but despite that the executive committee decided with quite a big majority that the tournament would be in Qatar."
Using "one makes a lot of mistakes in life" to absolve himself and his organization of blame might rub people the wrong way. But the frankness of that quote shows how much of a disaster Qatar 2022 is turning out to be.
A new study commissioned by the Qatari government found that 1,000 migrant workers have died in the country in 2012 and 2013. While Qatar maintains that none of these workers were working on World Cup projects, the sheer amount of supporting infrastructure needed to stage the event - roads, hotels, public transportation, communications centers - makes everything a World Cup project to some degree.
The deaths of migrant workers is the most outrageous problem associated with Qatar 2022, but it's far from the only one.
The event will probably have to be moved to winter because of the oppressive summer heat - something that will wreak havoc on pro leagues and TV deals.
Many of the FIFA executive committee voters who endorsed the Qatar World Cup have since been banned for ethics violations, including a one executive whose 10-year-old daughter reportedly received $3.4 million after he voted for Qatar.
Even before the voting took place, FIFA's own internal analysis of the bids was skeptical of how Qatar would stage the event.
Here's FIFA's operational risk assessment comparison between the U.S.'s bid and Qatar's:
FIFA
Blatter himself voted for the U.S. over Qatar in 2010. Since then, though, he has fully backed Qatar as World Cup host in the face of intense scrutiny.
- US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- Rupee falls 10 paise to settle at 83.48 against US dollar
- Include 4 hrs of physical activity, 8 hrs sleep in routine for optimal health, suggests study
- 11 must-visit tourist places in Nainital in 2024
- Indegene's ₹1,842 crore IPO to open on May 6
- BSE shares tank nearly 19% after Sebi directive on regulatory fee
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market