The President of FIFA, Joseph Blatter says he is confident Germany has
taken all measures needed to ensure a safe, clean and entertaining World
Cup. He says the games will kick off on June 9 with a match between
Germany and Costa Rica.
In less than two months from now, FIFA President, Joseph Blatter, says
the World Cup, for one month, will allow people to forget the misery of
the world.
Blatter is very upbeat about the games. He says he has no concerns
about security or the possibility of a terrorist attack. Nor is he worried
about safety of the 12 German football stadiums that will be used.
He says he personally intervened to make sure the Olympic stadium in
Berlin posed no dangers.
"Now, they have prepared so many bridges that practically, the people
they can escape in front, as it had not been foreseen at the beginning,"
he said. "But it has been foreseen that the people could escape climbing
up. And, this is not good because when there is, whatever it could be, a
panic, then you run down and you do not run up. But, now details have been
settled with the security in the stadium."
Blatter says there, no
doubt, will be some people who will want to disturb the World Cup. But, he
says most visitors want peaceful games and he is sure hooliganism will be
kept to a minimum.
For example, he says known rabble-rousers from Great Britain will not
be allowed to enter Germany.
"The security measures in Germany, they have taken a decision, a
political decision that in cases of necessity, the Schengen treaty could
not be observed," he explained. "It means that everybody has to present a
passport when traveling in Europe."
The lead-up to the World Cup has been mired
in controversy. Besides concerns for safety, questions have been raised
about doping and widespread racism among
players and within football clubs.
To allay these concerns, Blatter says FIFA has a very tough policy
against doping and notes that last year, the organization conducted 22,000
doping controls around the world. He says FIFA has put in place a number
of sanctions against players found guilty of racism.
The FIFA president says he is looking forward to the games in Germany,
but admits he is already thinking about the 2010 World Cup that will be
held in South Africa. He says he is pleased to note that all the people
who said Africa would be a financial disaster for the World Cup have been
proven wrong.
"The contracts we have already signed for 2010, they are higher than
the contracts for 2006 in Germany ... about 25 percent," he noted. "And,
this means that the football an exceptionally good product and we have to
take care about this product . The market trusts Africa and this is
important. The market trusts Africa. They do not know who is going to play
in Africa because the qualification is not made."
Germany has invested more than $1.5 billion to make the 12 stadiums fit
for the World Cup. It expects between 200,000 and 400,000 people to attend
the games. Blatter says more than 60 percent of the tickets on sale will
be available for ordinary people. |