FIFA to get to work on new selection system

FIFA to get to work on new selection system

GENEVA (AP): FIFA has faced unprecedented criticism over the past month for the way it selects World Cup venues. This week, it hopes to start healing the scars left by the choice of Germany as host for the 2006 tournament.

FIFA's executive committee meets Thursday in Zurich for the first time since its controversial July 6 vote, in which Germany edged out South Africa by a 12-11 margin. The world body's biannual congress, which includes all FIFA's national associations, meets Friday and Saturday.

With South Africa calling for the controversial vote to be taken arbitration, the 24-member executive faces a series of proposals that FIFA terms an "open discussion" on ways to change the system.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter had pushed for Africa to be awarded its first World Cup and has suggested rotating the tournament from continent to continent. Limiting the number of candidates per continent is also a possibility, as is naming two venues at once.

Missing from the meeting will be Charles Dempsey, former president of the Oceania Football Confederation, whose abstention tipped the vote in favor of Germany.

Dempsey blamed "unsustainable pressure" from bidders and threats from "influential European interests" for his decision to abstain.

The New Zealander resigned all his posts in the storm of criticism that followed and has been replaced on the FIFA executive by Sahu Khan of Fiji.

South Africa announced last week it would take the World Cup vote to arbitration under FIFA rules. The world governing body has so far refused to comment on the possibility, although Blatter maintains the choice of Germany should not be called into question.

"I don't see in what way arbitration could change the result of the vote," the Swiss daily Le Matin quoted him as saying.

"We should not create the impression that this particular legislation is in urgent need of repair. But voices have been raised and questions asked. It is FIFA's duty to respond," he wrote in the latest FIFA newsletter.

The executive also will choose a host country for the 2003 Women's World Cup. Australia and China are competing to host the event.

Other items on its agenda include the format and timing of the next Federations Cup and the FIFA Club World Championships.

Any proposal on a new World Cup system reached by the executive committee would be passed to the congress for approval.