FIFA sticks to 2010 contingency plan

LONDON – England and Australia are among the countries on FIFA’s list of contingency options to host the 2010 World Cup should South Africa fail to meet organisational deadlines, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said.

South Africa will become the first African nation to host football’s four-year showpiece event in three years’ time, but reports of delays in stadium construction work have raised questions of the tournament being staged there. FIFA remain-confident that all necessary facilities will be ready in time but Blatter feels FIFA needs to keep options open in case there are any unforeseen problems.Asked if England or Australia were fall-back options should the South African organisation falter, Blatter told the BBC’s Inside Sport programme: “Yes, but there are other countries that are ready to organise tomorrow morning or in two days, or two months, a World Cup.The United States of America, and Mexico, they can do it, Japan, they can do it.They have enough stadia.”Blatter appeared to give his support to the 2010 hosts when he added: “You say England can do it, and I am sure.Spain, they can do it.There are a lot of countries, but they don’t need to be ready.”Fears over the lack of construction and renovation work on the 10 South African stadiums to host the World Cup were expressed by Blatter last year.However FIFA appeared to give the Africans their full backing in March, when Blatter declared: “South Africa, we trust you.”The executive committee is now convinced that South Africa will be a good host for the World Cup.”In December South African President Thabo Mbeki rejected claims that the tournament could be held elsewhere, insisting the 2010 World Cup would be an “exceptional event”.Meanwhile England’s Football Association said they had not discussed any plans with FIFA for the tournament to move to England.”There have been no discussions with FIFA at this stage,” a spokesman told BBC Sport.”We do believe we have some of the finest stadia and football infrastructure in the world but it’s hypothetical as we understand South Africa are on course to stage the 2010 World Cup.”Nampa-AFPFIFA remain-confident that all necessary facilities will be ready in time but Blatter feels FIFA needs to keep options open in case there are any unforeseen problems.Asked if England or Australia were fall-back options should the South African organisation falter, Blatter told the BBC’s Inside Sport programme: “Yes, but there are other countries that are ready to organise tomorrow morning or in two days, or two months, a World Cup.The United States of America, and Mexico, they can do it, Japan, they can do it.They have enough stadia.”Blatter appeared to give his support to the 2010 hosts when he added: “You say England can do it, and I am sure.Spain, they can do it.There are a lot of countries, but they don’t need to be ready.”Fears over the lack of construction and renovation work on the 10 South African stadiums to host the World Cup were expressed by Blatter last year.However FIFA appeared to give the Africans their full backing in March, when Blatter declared: “South Africa, we trust you.”The executive committee is now convinced that South Africa will be a good host for the World Cup.”In December South African President Thabo Mbeki rejected claims that the tournament could be held elsewhere, insisting the 2010 World Cup would be an “exceptional event”.Meanwhile England’s Football Association said they had not discussed any plans with FIFA for the tournament to move to England.”There have been no discussions with FIFA at this stage,” a spokesman told BBC Sport.”We do believe we have some of the finest stadia and football infrastructure in the world but it’s hypothetical as we understand South Africa are on course to stage the 2010 World Cup.”Nampa-AFP