SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER - FIFA head Blatter speaks about world cup in South Africa and Irish request to join

Record ID: 452439

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER - FIFA head Blatter speaks about world cup in South Africa and Irish request to join
  • Date: 1st December 2009
  • Summary: WOMEN DANCING TO DRUMS
  • Embargoed: 16th December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3NQ7VPH59W2MLP324EB55YQFX
  • Story Text: FIFA President Sepp Blatter has spoken in South Africa about the 2010 world cup and referred to Ireland's controversial loss to qualifiers France.
    FIFA President Sepp Blatter told an audience at the Soccerex conference in Johannesburg on Monday (November 30) that next year's world cup will be wonderful but the players will have to show more respect for the rules.
    In an interview in front of hundreds of delegates, Blatter said Africa deserved to host the tournament.
    "This is the will of the executive committee, or let's say by the president, to say we have to go to Africa. And why to Africa? Because, like one of the big singers in the world and of the U2 (Bono), you know, he is such a lover of Africa, he told me one day: 'Joseph what you are doing is justice for Africa'. And that's what we wanted to do; give back something to Africa and now we are here and we trust Africa, you trust Africa, Soccerex trusts Africa, international audience here you trust Africa and we will have a wonderful world cup. This is the story of my love to Africa and that's why I'm so happy to be here today," he said.
    Blatter addressed the issue of vuvuzelas, the plastic trumpets that many South African fans blow during matches. Some people complained that the sound was disruptive during the Confederations Cup held in South Africa in June this year.
    "You know that they've said sometimes in Europe: 'stop the vuvuzelas'. Why the hell should we stop the Vuvuzelas? Let the vuvuzelas go on. Let the people express their pleasure and their joy in a football game with drums, vuvuzelas, songs and whatever. This is the African ambience and it will be good."
    He said FIFA would re-consider the organisation of the qualifying competition for future world cups and could end the current play-off system. He said additional assistant referees could officiate next year, mindful of the uproar surrounding Thierry Henry's blatant handball that helped France beat Ireland and qualify.
    "Just in one match you qualify or don't qualify and I think we must have a look on that. And then in addition to that, the second point, which is important, is match control. How can it happen than the world, all of the world and through television, where are the cameras, the television cameras. You can see that definitely with the cheating hands play the goal, not the goal was scored but the pass was given to a goal. Now naturally everybody is asking what is fair play, what is not fair play? But here, I have to say, there is a lack of discipline and respect in the game, in the game; a lack of discipline and respect of the players because they are cheating, but not only cheating by playing with the hand, stripping the shirt, pulling the leg, diving, diving. This is a human being trying to get advantage, but this is not good and this we have to fight against that,"
    The Swiss reiterated his stance against the use of technology or video replays to assist the referee, but said that the FIFA Executive Committee, in an extra-ordinary meeting scheduled for Cape Town on Wednesday, would discuss various pressing issues.
    Blatter also confirmed he had spoken to French striker Henry after the incident in this month's playoff match between France and Ireland and told him that although he understood why he did it, he did not condone his action.
    Henry used his hand to control a deep cross before setting up William Gallas's extra-time equaliser in Paris on November 18, which gave France a controversial 2-1 aggregate victory.
    Another issue that Blatter addressed included the illegal betting that usually accompanies games in the world's biggest sport, saying although the problems are there, getting rid of them is easier said than done.
    Asked again about Ireland, Blatter said Ireland still wanted to play in South Africa.
    "They agree that the match cannot be replayed because they know exactly because they have been at a certain time members of the international association board. The laws of the game are now 124 years old, 124 years old and the decision of the referee has always been final. Naturally they have not asked, they have not asked to give any sanctions to a player or to a referee, but they have asked very humbly: can't we be team number 33 in the world cup? (LAUGHTER) Yes, they have asked for that, really," he said.
    The world cup draw will be held on Friday.
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