Los Angeles, Jan 28, (dpa/GNA) – Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter, has recommended to fans to stay away from the World Cup in summer, because of the political situation in the United States which co-hosts the tournament with Mexico and Canada.
Blatter referred to an interview of Swiss lawyer and anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth when he said on Monday on X: “‘For the fans, there’s only one piece of advice: stay away from the USA!’ I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
Pieth had said in an interview with Swiss paper Tagesanzeiger published last week that fans may have difficulties entering the US, due to strict immigration policies under the administration of President Donald Trump.
“If we take everything we’ve talked about into account, there’s only one piece of advice for fans: stay away from the USA! You’ll get a better view on television anyway,” Pieth said.
“And: when entering the country, fans must be prepared for the possibility that, if the officials don’t like them, they will be sent straight back home on the next flight. If they’re lucky.”
Pieth was chairman of a working group on bribery at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for 24 years between 1989 and 2013. He also worked at FIFA 2011-2013 as chairman of its governance commission.
Blatter was FIFA president at the time before stepping down in 2015 in connection with corruption allegations against the governing body. He was later banned from football activities for several years.
There have been calls for a World Cup boycott in some countries, in connection with Trump’s aim to take over Greenland and fatal shootings of two people by immigration officers in Minneapolis.
Fans of Iran and Haiti, who have qualified for the World Cup, can not attend the tournament because of a US entry ban. Ivory Coast and Senegal fans could also find it difficult entering the US.
GNA