Blatter slams 2010 'go-slow'

2006-12-07 08:02

Zurich - The slow progress in building stadiums for the 2010 World Cup and an EU-backed report calling for new rules in the corporate governance of soccer drew criticism from Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Wednesday.

South Africa, which will host the 2010 World Cup from June 11 to July 11, has been having construction delays and internal squabbles over its 10 stadiums, and Blatter has voiced his concern in the past.

"We still have a few shovels and few picks here that you can take home along so that work really now progresses so that the stadia will be built on time," Blatter told South Africa organising committee head Danny Jordaan.

But Blatter quickly added: "Nevertheless, we express confidence in South Africa."

Fifa also changed the format for the two playoff spots for the next World Cup qualifying tournament, opened the bidding procedure for the 2014 World Cup, which is to be played in South America, and rejected an application from the British colony of Gibraltar to become a member.

The EU-backed report released in May said that financial scandals, corruption and racism had left European soccer in a dire state and called on the "direct involvement of political leaders."

Blatter said that was a step back toward greater government involvement in sports.

In the playoffs for the final two spots at the next World Cup, the fifth-place South American team will face the fourth-place team from Concacaf, and the Oceania champion will play Asia's fifth-best team. The decision does not change the number of qualifiers from each region.

Fifa later said it was possible that the Oceania champion could play in the latter stages of Asian qualifying instead of a two-leg playoff.

"The mode has yet to be determined," Fifa spokesperson Andreas Herren said.

The preliminary draw for the tournament will be held in Durban on November 23.

Brazil is considered the favourite to host the 2014 World Cup under Fifa's informal policy of continental rotation, and Fifa said the bidding procedure will be accelerated if only one association submits a bid and it meets all the requirements.

The host will be chosen in November 2007.

The executive committee also gave Iran a Tuesday deadline to accept its conditions or face another suspension for political interference.

The previous suspension has been provisionally lifted so the country's Under-23 team can participate in the Asian Games.

- SAPA