"UNE POLITIQUE DIFFAMATOIRE ENVERS TOUT CE QUI EST ÉTRANGER": POUR L'ANCIEN PRÉSIDENT DE LA FIFA, LES ETATS-UNIS NE DEVRAIENT PAS AVOIR LE DROIT D'ORGANISER UNE COUPE DU MONDE
In an interview with Radio Canada, Sepp Blatter didn't hesitate to criticize the United States and its president, Donald Trump, just months before the next World Cup, which will be held primarily on American soil. The former FIFA president believes the World Cup shouldn't be played there because of the visa ban imposed on certain countries.
Unlike his successor Gianni Infantino, Sepp Blatter is far from being a fan of the United States. As early as the end of January, the former FIFA president (1998-2015) had already called on supporters not to travel there for the World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States from June 11 to July 19. This Saturday, he gave a lengthy interview to Radio-Canada to discuss the World Cup, a source of much controversy.
"We shouldn't organize a World Cup in a country that doesn't issue visas."
For several months, political and geopolitical tensions in the United States have raised fears of a very unsafe World Cup for foreign fans due to Donald Trump's anti-immigration policies and visa bans. His threats of tariffs against Europe have also sparked debate about a possible boycott by some participating countries.
Clearly not fond of these measures, Sepp Blatter didn't mince words in criticizing the American president and his country, which he accuses of pursuing a defamatory policy towards foreigners. "In this World Cup, the big winner will be the United States, but not the spectators. In principle, a World Cup shouldn't be held in a country that doesn't grant visas [to everyone]. There's a defamatory policy in the United States against anything foreign. It's only 'America first, America first.' And that's sad. It's sad for the social and cultural value of football," lamented the 89-year-old Swiss.
"Trump is the worst thing that ever happened to FIFA"
Sepp Blatter took the opportunity to attack the "so-called friendship" between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino. Infantino had been heavily criticized for presenting the US president with the FIFA Peace Prize during the World Cup draw ceremony last December. "The involvement of the US president in World Cup affairs is the worst thing that has ever happened to FIFA. And there is no opposition to that," he asserted.
His criticism of the United States didn't stop there, as Blatter also lamented the highly unequal distribution of matches (78 of the 104 games will be played on American soil). "This isn't right. Putting the three countries together, you'd think they'd all have roughly the same share. This isn't in the best interest of football's development," Sepp Blatter declared.
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