Fifa president Sepp Blatter has thrown his support behind China one day hosting the World Cup, praising its efforts at the just completed Asian Cup.
”After hosting the 2008 Olympic Games, I am sure China will be a good World Cup host,” he was quoted as saying by the leading People’s Daily.
”But since Fifa has ruled in 2002 that the World Cup will be rotated in the six continents, it takes time for China to stage the World Cup.”
Football officials have suggested that China’s growth as an economic superpower makes the country a firm favourite to stage the next Asian World Cup, probably in 2018.
China made its World Cup debut at the 2002 World Cup jointly hosted by South Korea and Japan, losing all three of its matches.
But Blatter, who attended the opening ceremony of the Asian Cup in Beijing, said he had great confidence that Chinese football was on the fast track to success.
China made the Asian Cup final for the first time in 20 years, losing 3-1 on Saturday to arch-rival Japan.
”China has 1,4-billion people and they have professional football, Cup competitions and they will also host the Women’s World Cup. We have confidence in Chinese football,” he said.
Blatter brushed off concern over the ugly scenes that marred the final, saying it was ”understandable”.
”Those are human errors,” he said. ”That’s part of football.”
After the match pockets of Chinese fans burned Japanese flags in the street and others confronted armed riot police, shouting anti-Japanese obscenities and demanding a boycott of Japanese goods.
A car carrying a Japanese embassy official was attacked. – Sapa-AFP