Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, has also been embroiled in accusations of corruption
\n ZURICH
\nSepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA when Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup hosting rights in 2010, told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger \u201cQatar is a mistake,\u201d adding that \u201cthe choice was bad.\u201d
\nThe Qatar decision has been marred by controversy, including allegations of corruption and human rights violations, since it was first announced.
\nBlatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, has also been embroiled in accusations of corruption during his tenure. He was cleared of fraud by a Swiss court in June. The prosecutors have appealed the ruling.
\n\u201cIt is too small of a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for it,\u201d Blatter said of Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the tournament.
\nHe said FIFA in 2012 amended the criteria it used to select host countries in light of concerns over the working conditions at tournament-related construction sites in Qatar.
\n\u201cSince then, social considerations and human rights are taken into account,\u201d he said.
\nBlatter said he will be watching the tournament, which kicks off in less than two weeks, from his home in Zurich.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, has also been embroiled in accusations of corruption ZURICH Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA when Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup hosting rights in 2010, told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger \u201cQatar is a mistake,\u201d adding that \u201cthe choice was bad.\u201d The Qatar decision has been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-294284","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n