FIFA EXECS’ HOTEL HEADACHE

MANY of FIFA’s executive committee were perturbed to discover on arrival in Doha that their designated hotel was not ready, so they had to be accomodated elsewhere. The Fairmont Doha was still being painted this week — and repairs being made to its elevator system — despite Qatar having had 12 years to prepare since winning the right to stage the World Cup.

FIFA have booked out the Fairmont for the duration of the tournament, but many of their guests have spent this week elsewhere before being allowed to check in today on completion of the work.