FIFA rules out change in soccer 2002 W. Cup host

FIFA rules out change in soccer 2002 W. Cup host

ZURICH (DPA): Japan and South Korea will remain co-hosts of
the 2002 football World Cup despite their bickering about the
number of teams that should take part, the International Football
Federation (FIFA) secretary general Joseph Blatter said in an
interview Thursday.

Asked by the Neue Zuercher Zeitung daily if one of the two
could be stripped of the event Blatter said: "That can be ruled
out."

Blatter said neither country wanted to lose face by not
staging the sport's world climax, but conceded he had already
thought about such a scenario.

"It will be very, very difficult to build up a joint effort
which goes according to the decision made in May in Zurich," said
Blatter, looking back at the May 31 FIFA announcement that for
the first time in World Cup history two countries were made
hosts.

He also admitted: "It is very difficult to get both parties
together. Both federations have completely different ideas about
the co-hosting. The Japanese want to make use of all stadiums
they are building. They want more teams, more matches, a bigger
World Cup. South Korea wants exactly the opposite."

Blatter said both parties had separately visited the FIFA
headquarters and that a first joint session was scheduled for
Nov. 6.

Both federation presidents had an informal meeting September 8
in Tokyo which brought no results but rather stressed the
discrepancies.

Japan hopes for the second straight expansion of the field
from 32 in 1998 (up to now 24 teams) to 40 teams in 2002. South
Korea wants to halve its sites from 10 to five.
The Japanese wish is not likely to be approved by FIFA.

Blatter also reiterated in the interview that the option for
two hosts was a "sports political decision and not defeat" for
FIFA president Joao Havelange of Brazil.

Havelange was said to have favored Japan while the influential
Europeans wanted South Korea as host, out of opposition to
Havelange. The relationship between FIFA and the European body
UEFA have long been strained, and it was even rumored that UEFA
boss Lennart Johansson of Sweden may run for FIFA presidency in
1998.

But Blatter said a recent meeting between the two men in
Zurich had been a serious effort to reduce tensions.

"The fraternal hug and kiss on the hand between the FIFA and
UEFA presidents in the FIFA headquarters at a private social
event was a spontaneous wish from Johansson. We are definitely
looking ahead at quieter times," Blatter said.

Blatter also said that rumors that United States football boss
Alan Rothenburg, organizer of the 1984 L.A. Olympics and 1994
football World Cup, wanted to run for FIFA presidency were not
completely new, but not an idea by FIFA.