MEXICO: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: FIFA President Sepp Blatter guarantees security during next year's soccer World Cup in South Africa

Record ID: 303476

  • Title: MEXICO: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: FIFA President Sepp Blatter guarantees security during next year's soccer World Cup in South Africa
  • Date: 10th November 2009
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (NOVEMBER 9, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MEXICO'S FOOTBALL FEDERATION (FMF) VARIOUS OF BLATTER RECEIVING BANNER AND COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL OF HIS VISIT TO MEXICO FROM MEXICAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT JUSTINO COMPEAN BLATTER AND FMF DIRECTOR'S BOARD POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS PHOTOGRAPHERS GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (Spanish) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER, SAYING: "After that competition, the Confederations Cup, people there, the media... I practically spoke to them everyday because I went to different stadiums and at every stadium I was with the media and there was no criticism, not directed at the organization, or security and they did not say the quality of the pitches was not the ideal one." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER, SAYING: "Refereeing is a very important theme for FIFA and we should insist that umpiring should be professional in professional football, because if the umpiring is professional, there will be less risk of corruption as we have previously seen ." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER, SAYING: "But with the under-23 players, as you have correctly said, big clubs don't want them to play for their countries. But we have a moral obligation in front of the Olympic movement. When we play against the best... We can't say we're going to play against the under-20s and then play against the under-18s. No, we should maintain an important level at the Olympic Games because the most attractive sport for spectators at the Olympic Games is soccer." CAMERAMAN AT NEWS CONFERENCE BLATTER LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 25th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2OVDPE3YEFZ665GOJEZR8HY6O
  • Story Text: FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Monday (November 09) guaranteed adequate security measures at next year's soccer World Cup in South Africa.
    Security concerns shroud the tournament due to South Africa's high murder rate.
    Blatter blew off those concerns and said there are 3.5 million tickets available to the public but demand for 5 million.
    He also said there had been no concerns following the South African Confederations Cup held earlier this year.
    "After that competition, the Confederations Cup, people there, the media... I practically spoke to them everyday because I went to different stadiums and at every stadium I was with the media and there was no criticism, not directed at the organization, or security and they did not say the quality of the pitches was not the ideal one," Blatter, who is in Mexico to attend an event to present the uniform Mexico will use during the World Cup, said.
    Blatter also said umpiring was a mayor concern for FIFA following several corruption scandals in different parts of the world.
    "Refereeing is a very important theme for FIFA and we should insist that umpiring should be professional in professional football, because if the umpiring is professional, there will be less risk of corruption as we have previously seen," seventy-three-year-old Blatter told a news conference in Mexico City.
    Some European clubs have asked FIFA to allow under-20 teams to represent their countries at the Olympic Games and not under-23s as they currently do.
    Many players from important clubs around the world are under-23. They are required to represent their countries at the Olympics Games. This is something clubs wish to avoid.
    Blatter said this was impossible as the quality of the tournament would be affected if players under the age of 20 played.
    "But with the under-23 players, as you have correctly said, big clubs don't want them to play for their countries. But we have a moral obligation in front of the Olympic movement. When we play against the best... We can't say we're going to play against the under-20s and then play against the under-18s. No, we should maintain an important level at the Olympic Games because the most attractive sport for spectators at the Olympic Games is soccer."
    Blatter will remain in Mexico until Thursday (November 12) this week, after attending an event to present the uniform Mexico will wear during the World Cup on Monday evening. He also plans to inaugurate a building in Pachuca named after him and attend the inauguration of a new stadium belonging to the Santos Laguna club in the northern city of Torreon.
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