World Cup 2010 finals may be co-hosted in Africa (01.03.2002)
The president of world football`s governing body FIFA said here Wednesday that there was a strong possibility the 2010 World Cup finals would be co-hosted in Africa.
"The door for a future co-hosting...is still open for Africa in 2010," said Sepp Blatter at a news conference.
The issue did not arise in relation to the 2006 tournament, he said, because it would be hosted by Germany and they have enough stadia to do it alone.
The 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup finals will be the first time in football history that the event has been co-hosted, as well as being the first World Cup in Asia.
Blatter said in Addis Ababa last April that the 2010 finals would "definitely go to Africa."
"The problem is that it (the 2002 tournament), is the first experience of co-hosting. Before going into a second experience, we have to evaluate the results of this first experience," said Blatter.
"Definitely co-hosting has more positive aspects than negative aspects. The only negative aspects we can see
now are the costs. So the negative aspect can be overcome, because it`s only money. You have to see the positive aspects."
South Africa and Morocco, who battled for candidacy to stage the 2006 finals, as well as Nigeria and Egypt, have so far declared their intention to bid for the 2010 World Cup.
Blatter`s readiness to contemplate a second attempt at co-hosting is in marked contrast to the comments of his advisor, former French national team captain Michel Platini, at the draw for this year`s finals in Busan in December.
Platini predicted the tournament would be the "first and the last" to be jointly hosted because problems caused by holding the world`s biggest sporting event in two countries had outweighed the benefits resulting from attempts to bring together the rival Asian neighbours.
Blatter and other football officials, including some national team coaches, from the 32 participating countries were in Tokyo for two days of talks to finalize details for the World Cup finals in June.
