Blatter hits out at World Cup bidding rule

ZURICH: Former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter says he is shocked at a rule which has been inserted into the World Cup bidding process that could allow a five-man task force to disqualify a candidate before a democratic vote is held.

In 2011 the FIFA Congress, where each of the global soccer body’s 211 member associations hold one vote, was given the right to choose the World Cup hosts fol- lowing a change proposed by Blatter while he was president.

The first hosting decision since then will be in June at the Congress in Moscow, where only two bids are in the running - a joint proposal from the United States/ Canada/mexico and one from Morocco.

However, the two bids must first pass a technical inspection from a five-man task force, which has the power to disqualify a candidate whose proposal is seen as not up to scratch.

Blatter said both candidates should have the right to present their bids to Congress. “You cannot deny one of the candidates (the chance) to go to Congress. This is a principle and I stick to this principle... I was shocked.”

PLISKOVA CALLED TO LEAD CZECH TEAM

PRAGUE: World number six Karolina Pliskova will lead the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup semi-final tie in Germany on April 21-22, the Czech Fed Cup team announced. Captain Petr Pala has also called up 10th-ranked two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and 26th-ranked Barbora Strycova, adding, in a post on Facebook, he would name the fourth player later on.

“The team is strong but we are facing a strong opponent,” said Pala, who has led the Czechs to five Fed Cup titles out of the last seven Fed Cup editions.

“The tie will definitely be great for the audience and tough for both teams.”