Blatter vows reform, spreads power
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Stung by criticism of the system to choose World Cup hosts, FIFA President Sepp Blatter yesterday proposed stripping the executive committee of that power and allowing every federation to vote.
Blatter offered the concession at the FIFA Congress ahead of his re-election among a series of reforms to make world football's governing body more transparent.
"It was the (awarding) of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups which kicked off the wave of criticism which are still coming," Blatter said. "They concentrated on the World Cup because it is not just the economic value but the social and political value of the World Cup."
The 208 federations must approve the change before being able to vote on future hosts.
"Is it correct that the executive committee determines the World Cup?" Blatter said. "We should give more power to the associations. I want the organization of the World Cup to be decided by the FIFA Congress. The executive committee will create a shortlist and make no recommendations, only a list and the Congress will decide on the venue."
However, the next vote, for the 2026 World Cup hosts, might not be until 2018. By then, Blatter's fourth four-year term will have ended.
Late yesterday, Blatter was elected for another four-year term as FIFA president. "This is a new challenge. I accept it," he said.
German federation President Theo Zwanziger said the awarding of the tournament to Qatar raised "speculations and corruption allegations" and should be examined "more precisely."
"This awarding of the World Cup should be re-examined," he said.
Qatar has been forced to regularly dismiss claims it paid bribes to voters. A leaked email from FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke suggested Qatar "bought" the World Cup, although he later said he was referring to the financial might behind the country's campaign.
A proposal by England to delay yesterday's presidential election was earlier defeated by 172-17 votes. Before the vote, Blatter warned the members about the "evils" of the English media, which had been investigating FIFA corruption.
The acting chairman of The Football Association said he didn't want the job permanently, with Roger Burden saying he could no longer trust FIFA. "We are confident The FA has played a significant role as a catalyst for change in the way World Cup hosts will be selected in the future," Burden's successor, David Bernstein, said. "This must be a more open transparent process."
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