Blatter Admits To 2010 Back-up Plan

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted for the first time that the football
governing body has made back-up plans in the event that South Africa is not
ready to host the 2010 World Cup.

South Africa’s preparations for the tournament have been hit by consistent
delays leading to fears that the infrastructure would not be ready in time for
2010.

Blatter has previously strenuously denied that the country would not be ready
to host the tournament but it now looks like this is a possibility after the
FIFA president listed a number of countries who could step in.

In an interview with the BBC’s new ‘Inside Sport’ programme, which debuts
tonight, Blatter stated that ‘other countries were ready to organise the World
Cup’ should it become necessary although he did emphasise that he still believed
South Africa would be the host nation.

Among the countries mentioned by Blatter who could step in at the last minute
include England, the US, Mexico, Japan and Spain.

‘Definitely we have a possibility to go somewhere else if something happens,’
said Blatter.

‘Something can happen. It is a natural catastrophe or whatever, a big change
in society – everybody against football. But then for the time being the plan B
is South Africa and the plan C we definitely must have a possibility to go
somewhere else.’