Gulf World Cup proposed
Platini hopes Qatar will share 2022 tournament
Uefa president Michel Platini has suggested that the 2022 World Cup be played across the whole of the Arabian Gulf rather than just in Qatar, while he has also branded the Football Association 'strange'.
Controversy has already surfaced regarding 2022 after Fifa president Sepp Blatter stated the tournament could be held in January rather than the traditional summer months.
Such a plan was not put forward in the bid that was voted for, while there was also no mention of involving other countries.
However, Platini does not believe that should be considered a major problem and feels it might be beneficial for Qatar to share games with other nations in the region.
He told reporters at Uefa's headquarters: "I hope it will be a World Cup of the Gulf. It could be the World Cup of Qatar but played in the Gulf.
"I think we need political people (for this to happen), but I think so."
Asked why such drastic changes could be considered when they were not discussed during the bidding campaign, Platini added: "Who will remember the words in 12 years? In 12 years everybody will be happy to have a very well-organised World Cup and not remember what's happened before.
"When I organised the World Cup in France we did (things) differently from what we proposed in the bid."
Chicken or veal
England had hoped to win the right to host the 2018 World Cup but only received two votes and the honour went to Russia.
Platini denies that resentment at Britain's special status within Fifa led to England's 2018 defeat but could not offer a reason for the result of the vote.
"I don't know, people made a choice... it's like going into a restaurant," he said.
"You can choose beef, fish, chicken or veal, but you can't always explain why you choose one and not the other."
Platini feels England should work with Fifa instead of continuing to complain about their 2018 bid defeat.
He also questioned the logic behind the appointment of Football Association chairman-elect David Bernstein, in that he was chosen by a small group rather than in an election.
Platini said: "In England you are different, in every way you are different. The way you elect a president of the FA is very strange.
"It's asking three people to recommend one, it's strange.
No fair play
"It's your world and you decide what you want to do. For me I don't have to interfere but I can say it's strange.
"I think Fifa and Uefa needs big countries and England definitely is a big country.
"England needs to be with Uefa and Uefa needs England. We are in the same way for football. We have to be together.
"It is not because the Fifa members don't vote for (England) that they don't like (England)."
He also dismissed suggestions that England were unfairly dealt with in their 2018 bid.
"When the 2012 Olympics did not come to Paris, did everyone say that the IOC was corrupted?" he added.
"Blatter said that fair play was an English thing but you have not been so 'fair play'."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12016_6659445,00.html
Platini hopes Qatar will share 2022 tournament
Uefa president Michel Platini has suggested that the 2022 World Cup be played across the whole of the Arabian Gulf rather than just in Qatar, while he has also branded the Football Association 'strange'.
Controversy has already surfaced regarding 2022 after Fifa president Sepp Blatter stated the tournament could be held in January rather than the traditional summer months.
Such a plan was not put forward in the bid that was voted for, while there was also no mention of involving other countries.
However, Platini does not believe that should be considered a major problem and feels it might be beneficial for Qatar to share games with other nations in the region.
He told reporters at Uefa's headquarters: "I hope it will be a World Cup of the Gulf. It could be the World Cup of Qatar but played in the Gulf.
"I think we need political people (for this to happen), but I think so."
Asked why such drastic changes could be considered when they were not discussed during the bidding campaign, Platini added: "Who will remember the words in 12 years? In 12 years everybody will be happy to have a very well-organised World Cup and not remember what's happened before.
"When I organised the World Cup in France we did (things) differently from what we proposed in the bid."
Chicken or veal
England had hoped to win the right to host the 2018 World Cup but only received two votes and the honour went to Russia.
Platini denies that resentment at Britain's special status within Fifa led to England's 2018 defeat but could not offer a reason for the result of the vote.
"I don't know, people made a choice... it's like going into a restaurant," he said.
"You can choose beef, fish, chicken or veal, but you can't always explain why you choose one and not the other."
Platini feels England should work with Fifa instead of continuing to complain about their 2018 bid defeat.
He also questioned the logic behind the appointment of Football Association chairman-elect David Bernstein, in that he was chosen by a small group rather than in an election.
Platini said: "In England you are different, in every way you are different. The way you elect a president of the FA is very strange.
"It's asking three people to recommend one, it's strange.
No fair play
"It's your world and you decide what you want to do. For me I don't have to interfere but I can say it's strange.
"I think Fifa and Uefa needs big countries and England definitely is a big country.
"England needs to be with Uefa and Uefa needs England. We are in the same way for football. We have to be together.
"It is not because the Fifa members don't vote for (England) that they don't like (England)."
He also dismissed suggestions that England were unfairly dealt with in their 2018 bid.
"When the 2012 Olympics did not come to Paris, did everyone say that the IOC was corrupted?" he added.
"Blatter said that fair play was an English thing but you have not been so 'fair play'."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12016_6659445,00.html
