It has to be tough enough to host one of the world’s biggest events in a desert climate…during summer.

But that’s what FIFA decided to do when it tabbed Qatar as the 2022 host of the World Cup.

We’re a dozen years away and the problems have already begun. How are you going to keep the fans migrating in from around the world cool? What the hell is there to do in a desert when soccer is not being played? Is it safe? (listed in order of priority, of course)

But before any of those issues are tackled, pun intended, self-inflicted occupational hazards are already raining down on the FIFA committee thanks to the organization’s president, Sepp Blatter.

Asked about concerns over the treatment of gay fans at the 2022 tournament, Blatter appeared to laugh the question off, saying: “I would say they should refrain from any sexual activities.”

Uh-oh.

Obviously, there’s an outcry for this guy’s resignation. There’s nothing like kicking off a 12-year-long World Cup campaign by alienating a group of people.

Blatter followed his “joke” up with a more PC statement, saying “no discrimination against any human beings on this side or that side or left or right or whatever. So you can be assured that if people want to watch a match somewhere in Qatar in 2022 I am sure they will be admitted to such matches.”

The question was asked in the first place because Qatar has traditionally taken a very aggressive stance against human rights.

According to Amnesty International, last year in Qatar at least 18 people, mostly foreigners, were sentenced to floggings of between 40 and 100 lashes for offences related to “illicit sexual relations” or alcohol consumption.

Honestly, what was FIFA thinking? We’re running into issues and half the players in the 2022 World Cup probably can’t drive a car yet…

As for ol’ Sepp, he better get his act together before he gets some lashes himself.

[Source: UK Guardian]