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Prince backs Qatar's World Cup 2022 changes

Roar Guru
13th December, 2010
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Jordan’s Prince Ali has backed calls to switch Qatar’s 2022 World Cup from summer to winter and to involve neighbouring Arab countries as co-hosts, two controversial proposals that were not part of the bid that shocked Australia’s hosting ambitions.

“I am sure there are concerns, but what has been done has been done, and now what we have to do is make sure it (the World Cup) is a success,” said the Jordanian royal and aspiring FIFA vice-president.

The 34-year-old prince will be the youngest FIFA executive committee member by far if he succeeds in his challenge to South Korea’s Dr Chung Mong-Joon.

He empathises with the astonishment Australians felt at being bundled out in the first round of World Cup bidding with just one vote in Zurich two weeks ago, when FIFA awarded the 2022 event to Qatar despite its summer temperatures of 50 degrees and its tiny size.

But he was not surprised at the choice of the nation of just 1.7 million people as the first Middle Eastern country to host the tournament.

“I think they invested a lot in this and it looked like they had a good chance,” he told AAP on a campaign swing through Asian nations ahead of the FIFA executive vote in Qatar in January.

“I do believe every single FIFA national association should have the right to host the World Cup, regardless of size, if they have the means and capabilities to do so.”

He supported suggestions made in the outcry that followed the choice of Qatar to move the event to the cooler month of January, and to spread it to neighbouring countries such as Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and possibly Saudi Arabia.

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“I think they have to incorporate the people of the region,” Prince Ali said.

“Also in terms of capacity they will have to reach out to some of the neighbouring countries to help with people coming from outside who want to experience this event.”

Prince Ali has pledged to restore FIFA’s corruption-tarnished image and introduce greater transparency to its decision-making process in his battle for Asia’s vice-presidential spot held by Dr Chung, heir to the Hyundai car empire.

It is a tough ask, as South Korea’s 16-year FIFA veteran has been touted as not only a possible FIFA president but a potential president of his nation.

But Prince Ali, president of Jordan’s football association for 10 years and founder of the West Asian Football Association, believes it is time for the post to be “energised”.

Asked if corruption was world football’s greatest problem, he said: “At the moment I am looking from the outside, as is everyone else.

“But I do believe people like myself need to get into this organisation because we have reputations and backgrounds that hopefully will help ensure that if are these issues there will be less and less of it.

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“We have to bring back the reputation of this organisation to where it should be.

“That’s why i want to get in there.

“We want people who you know for sure will not be part of issues like that.”

“I don’t want there to be decisions made behind closed doors.

“The next four years are crucial for FIFA in light of everything that has gone on.”

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