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Notes from a round table event with FIFA President

(FIFA.com)
Updated: 2006-05-22 10:46

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter took questions on topics relating to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany? and general FIFA business as part of an information meeting with more than 40 journalists from around the world.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, pictured during the round table event in Zurich on 19 May 2006.[AFP]

 

On the FIFA World Cup in Germany:

We must pay a huge compliment to the Germans. Everything that has been achieved in Germany: the stadiums, the logistics, the telecommunications, is simply superb. Ticketing will remain a hot topic right up until 9 July. All the tickets will be sold. A short time ago, I had a conversation with Interior Minister Wolfgang Sch?uble. He said: "We have to consider whether it will be possible to maintain the strict security system right to the end. We have a problem with security and access controls, as we want to avoid bottlenecks."

On the 15 May deadline for naming squads:

All the associations submitted their squad lists on 15 May, right on time. We just had a couple of cases where the squad numbering wasn't clear.

On the subject of referees at the FIFA World Cup:

Our intention was to field teams of match officials who were all well acquainted with each another. Referees are there to ensure a good game and protect the players. That's why we tested all the teams ahead of the World Cup. The lead referee was instructed to nominate three assistants, of whom two were obliged to pass the tests. We ran physical and theory tests. We took a hard line at these tests. If two assistants fail to pass the tests, the whole team is in trouble.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will watch and analyse every match at the World Cup, and intervene if there's something the referee didn't see. Referees who fail strictly to apply interpretations made by the International FA Board and FIFA, and the rules designed to protect the players, will be sent home.

On the withdrawal of Italian referee de Santis:

The Italian association took the initiative and withdrew the refereeing trio, together with both members of the Referee's Committee. We won't replace that team. We still have 22 teams and five reserve teams for the World Cup.

The investigations are currently ongoing in Italy, so he's to be considered innocent until a verdict is pronounced. We're in close contact with everyone involved, and we've been kept informed of developments.

On the question as to why the World Cup only features two refereeing teams from Africa:

We have two referee teams and two reserve teams from Africa, so that's four teams in total. We had to make a choice of 23 teams, now down to 22, from 45. The evaluation showed we have the same quota as we do in Asia. It's another thing altogether when we consider Mexico, which is providing two teams, because Mexico has an exceptionally high standard of refereeing. The development of refereeing techniques is more difficult in Africa, partly because we've been unable to recruit teams for 2006 drawn from single nations.

On the problems in Italian football:

Calcio is the biggest thing around, stronger than any religion. We've been provided with all the information we require by the Italian association. Association President Franco Carraro asked us whether he should step down from his UEFA and FIFA committees, but we told him he should continue to exercise his offices in these cases.

On the subject of betting during the World Cup:

Everyone involved at the World Cup will sign a declaration promoting fair play, rejecting racism and doping, and declaring that he and his family members are not in any way whatsoever involved in gambling.

On racist incidents during the FIFA World Cup:

The Executive Committee has ratified a Disciplinary Code, summarising our policy in a single document, available at FIFA.com. A team can be docked three points, or six points for a repeat offence, in the event of racialist incidents on the field. The policy will take effect from 1 July, but it should also apply to the World Cup in Germany.

We have to tread extremely carefully in this matter. The spectators won't be assigned to specific areas of the ground at the World Cup, so we can only punish racialist activities which take place on the field of play, i.e. the things we can control, the players and the coaching staff etc.

On social responsibility:

250 million people all over the world are directly involved in football, as players, coaches, referees, and officials. Every single one has four or five family members or friends who accompany them in some way. The worldwide movement that is football thus encompasses more than a billion people, one-sixth of the global population.

That means football has a responsibility to society, and we have to take it seriously. That's why FIFA has established a special "Social Responsibility" department. At the Congress in Munich, the Ethics and Fair Play Committee will be re-constituted as the Committee for "Social Responsibility and Fair Play". Ethical matters will be dealt with in a new, independent Ethics Committee.