Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday supported a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States, citing the actions of President Donald Trump and his administration at home and abroad.
Blatter was the latest international soccer player to cast doubt on the United States’ suitability as host nation. he called for a boycott Post to X This confirmed Mark Peace’s comments in an interview last week. Swiss newspaper Derband.
Piece, a Swiss lawyer and anti-corruption expert specializing in white-collar crime, was chairman of the Independent Governance Commission overseeing FIFA reform a decade ago. Blatter served as president of the world football governing body from 1998 to 2015. He resigned amid a corruption investigation.
In an interview with Der Bund, Piece said: “Given what we’ve been talking about, I have only one piece of advice for fans: Stay away from America! It’s probably better to watch it on TV.” And when they arrive, if they don’t like the authorities, they should expect to be put on the next plane home, if they’re lucky.”
Blatter quoted Pieza in his X post, adding: “I think Mark Peace is right to have doubts about this World Cup.”
The United States will co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
International soccer’s concerns about the United States stem from President Trump’s expansionist stance toward Greenland, travel ban, and aggressive tactics against immigrants and immigration enforcement protesters in U.S. cities, particularly Minneapolis.
Oke Getrich, one of the vice presidents of the German Football Federation, said: Hamburg Morgenpost Newspaper In an interview Friday, he said the time has come. seriously consider boycotting the world cup.
Two weeks ago, travel plans for fans of Africa’s two top soccer countries were thrown into disarray by the arrival of the Trump administration. announced a ban This would effectively ban people from Senegal and Ivory Coast from following the team unless they already have a visa. Quoted by President Trump “Screening and Testing Deficiencies” as the main reason for suspension of activities.
Fans from Iran and Haiti, two other countries that qualified for the World Cup, will also be barred from entering the United States. They were included in the first travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
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