Zwanziger Comments See Bookmakers Re-Open `2022 Host` Market

Bookmakers have begun to reopen their markets regarding the next host of the 2022 World Cup after Fifa Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger claimed today (22nd September) that the tournament will no longer be held in Qatar due to safety concerns regarding the country`s searing summers.

Qatari officials had answered questions about the heat by building stadiums, training areas and fan zones complete with cooling technologies, though the former German football chief told publication Sports Bild that he `personally` did not think the measures were enough.

`They may be able to cool the stadiums but a World Cup does not take place only in there.` The 69-year-old said.

`Fans from around the world will be coming and travelling in this heat and the first life-threatening case will trigger an investigation by a state prosecutor.

`That is not something that Fifa Exco members want to answer for.`

Both fans of, and officials for, European domestic leagues have heavily criticised Fifa`s decision to award Qatar the competition ever since the result was called back in 2010, with the sunday Times reporting in June that ex-Fifa Vice-President Mohamed bin Haman had paid global officials over £3 million to back the bid.

In an interview with Swiss television broadcaster RTS, Fifa President Sepp Blatter described the selection as a `mistake`.

`Of course it was a mistake. You know, one comes across a lot of mistakes in life.` The 78-year-old continued, `The Qatar technical report indicated clearly that it is too hot in summer, but the executive committee with quite a big majority decided all the same that the tournament would be in Qatar.`

Blatter is due to stand for a fifth term as president of the organisation in next year`s vote. He will be challenged by 56-year-old Parisian and former French diplomat Jerome Champagne.

Should it go ahead as planned, the World Cup 2022 is set to be the first major sporting tournament to be held in the Middle East, and will probably be the first football World Cup to be hosted in the European winter.

Delia Fischer, spokeswoman for football`s governing body, released a statement firmly stating that Zwanziger was not speaking for Fifa as a whole and that no further comment will be made.

`He is expressing a personal opinion and he clearly says so,` She told Reuters. `We will not comment on personal opinion.`

Despite this only being speculation, bookmakers have not been deterred from offering odds on where the competition will be held in eight years time. Whilst Fifa are 2/1 (Betvictor, paddy Power) to not reverse their decision, the current favourite to take the honour is America, already one-time organisers of the World Cup in 1994 and consecutive hosts of the Women`s World Cup in 1999 and 2003. The USA can be backed at 13/8 with paddy Power.

It was back in February 2007 when the United States confirmed that it would place bids to host both 2018 and 2022 World Cups, subsequently withdrawing from the 2018 draw to concentrate on securing the latter. The USA Bid Committee, Inc. had identified 21 venues from Boston to Los Angeles at which they could stage the 64 games, though eventually came runners-up to the now infamous Qatari bid, losing to a 14 to eight majority decision.

Australia, who were eliminated in the first round of voting back in 2010 with just one solitary vote, have been priced at 6/1 (paddy Power) to stage the forthcoming event. South Korea and Japan, the only other two countries to submit bids during the process, are 16/1 (Betvictor and paddy power) and 40/1 (paddy Power) respectively to recapture the competition after jointly hosting football`s biggest international competition back in 2002. Both Betvictor and paddy power are offering odds of 20/1 on football coming home to England.

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22/09/2014     © Frixo 2026