stripped of the 2022 World Cup as new questions arose Sunday over the
awarding of hosting rights.
The world football chief reiterated his backing for the tournament
after a British newspaper published fresh allegations about the
bidding process.
"Ladies and gentlemen, believe me, if we see what has been said,
what`s told around the world, it`s by those who are not involved
exactly (in) what happens in football," Blatter told delegates at the
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) awards in Manila.
"The World Cup 2022 will be played in Qatar," he said to applause and
a few whistles of support from the 400 delegates at the gala dinner in
the Philippine capital.
Blatter was speaking after the Sunday Times said Britain`s bidding
team for the 2018 World Cup, awarded to Russia, had a secret database
containing fresh allegations about the 2018 and 2022 hosting races.
The database includes unproven claims of vote-buying and trading
linked to both Qatar and Russia`s successful bids, according to the
newspaper.
The report comes after deep controversy over FIFA`s in-house probe
into the bidding process, when investigator Michael Garcia said the
world body had misrepresented his findings.
On Sunday FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke insisted there was "no
need" to publish the investigation in full, despite widespread calls
to make it public.
"Legally speaking there is no need and no reason to publish," Valcke
said in brief comments to AFP at the function in Manila.
Blatter, who is seeking re-election to a fifth term next year, has
also faced calls to step down over FIFA`s handling of the report on
Qatar.
The 78-year-old Swiss enjoys strong support from the AFC, including
its leader Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who is also expected
to seal re-election next year.
"He came in with his executive committee to bring Asian football to
the right place," Blatter said of Shaikh Salman. "It`s (Asia) a great
part of football, it`s a great part of the world," he added.
--AFP
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