Izuchukwu Okosi
Sepp Blatter has opened up on his backing of FIFA World Cup tournaments held in Africa and cynically stated that was his only mistakes as the former president of the Federation of International Football (FIFA).
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Africa hosted FIFA tournaments between 2009 and 2010 in the U-17, U-20 and senior World Cups albeit that seemed to open a lot of pandora box.
Nigeria hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009 hosted the U-20 also in 2009 while South Africa hosted the senior World Cup in 2010.
Blatter believes that the decision to back Africa hosting rights created enemity for him but affirmed that he is proud to have made such a mistake.
“I am proud of this mistake, it made me to be hated by anti-Africans, they started to investigate us, they brought up propaganda information that blackmailed us.
“Things just escalated when I launched a One goal organization to build African infrastructure, that upsets the western world and this is the only mistake I will always be proud of,” the Swiss administrator stated.
Blatter however casts doubts of an Africa nation hosting the FIFA World Cup anytime soon due to powerful forces against the idea.
“But where there is a will, there is a way, and therefore we brought this World Cup to Africa, to South Africa.
“The first [time World Cup in Africa] and I think for the time being, the only one and I cannot see if they will be a second one. I am happy that it has been realised.
Blatter and FIFA have often been dogged by controversy and allegations of corruption.
The Swiss’ tenure was controversial over allegations of financial mismanagement and the acceptance of bribes resulting in Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup. He is currently serving a six-year ban from participating in FIFA activities.
Blatter was the eighth President of the FIFA from 1998 to 2015.
In 2018, Sepp Blatter endorsed Morocco’s bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 81-year-old threw his weight behind the one-time AFCON champions to host the World Cup at the expense of the North American countries.
After four failed attempts to host the global fiesta in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010, the north African country again attempted to host the biggest footballing event with the disgraced football chief backing them.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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