FIFA president Sepp Blatter is coming under pressure to backtrack
on his comment that only European nations may be considered as
hosts for the 2018 World Cup.
FIFA's original bidding rules stated countries could bid for
the 2018 and 2022 tournaments simultaneously as they are being
voted on at the same time in December.
Blatter has now hinted that 2018 would be reserved for
countries from Europe - the bidders are England, Russia,
Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium.
The remark has caused uproar, especially in Australia and to
an extent in the USA, who were also bidding for 2018 and 2022. The
view among the FIFA executive committee - who agreed the bidding
policy - is that Blatter was speaking off the cuff.
One FIFA executive committee said: "I think it is very
unlikely the rules will be changed at this stage.
"It would be unfair on those countries who have been
operating for some months now with bids for 2018 and 2022.
"It would need a FIFA executive committee decision to change
the policy and I don't think there is an appetite for that."
Blatter's controversial remarks came during a visit to Spain
when he confirmed UEFA president Michel Platini had pushed the idea
of Europe only for 2018.
Blatter said: "From what I've discussed with the president of
UEFA, Michel Platini, in the last few days, is that only a European
candidate will be evaluated for the 2018 World Cup.
"It's still not decided, but it's an idea to help facilitate
the work of FIFA and its executive committee.
"There is a movement at the moment among the various
candidates that in the end it would be a good solution ...if the
candidates for 2018 would only be those from Europe.
"It would also possibly make the work of the different
organisations applying for the World Cup easier."
