Blatter: ‘Of course Qatar a mistake’

FIFA President Sepp Blatter holding up the name of Qatar during the official announcement of the 2022 World Cup host country at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. Source: PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted it was a mistake to choose Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup — it beat Australia's among others — because of the country's sweltering summertime climate.

When asked if it was a mistake choosing the Middle East country because of its high temperatures during the summer months, Blatter said in an interview on Thursday with Swiss RTS station: "Yes, of course ... You know, everyone makes mistakes in life."

The average temperature tops 40°C in June and July (, when World Cup finals usually take place.

"The Qatar technical report ruled that it was too hot in the summer, but the (FIFA's) executive committee, with a large majority, decided to play in Qatar," said Blatter.

In these circumstances, "it is more than likely" that the 2022 World Cup will be played in winter, said Blatter, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to move the tournament to a more appropriate date. A decision on that has been delayed until after this year's tournament in Brazil.

Temperatures in the winter in Qatar are around 25°C (77 degrees Fahrenheit). "The best time to play is at the end of the year. You must remain realistic ... we must play in winter at the end of the year," added Blatter.

Hey FIFA, you could still Come Play here. Source: News Limited

FIFA took the controversial decision to award Qatar the World Cup in December 2010.

There have also been numerous corruption allegations about the bidding process for the tournament and reports of alleged abuses of the rights of migrant workers employed on World Cup projects.

Australia bid for the right to host 2022 — spending more than $40m in the process but gained just one vote as Qatar won by a landslide, ahead of the United States, South Korea and (separately) Japan.

UK football writer Henry Winter recently wrote: "It was laughable that such a serious bid as Australia should finish last. It summed up Fifa's tainted voting system that the most legitimate bid went out in the first round. It is no surprise that half of the 22 ExCo members involved have since stepped down, some of them totally discredited."

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