Blatter takes aim at attempts to 'destroy' FIFA

FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks out on the 2022 Qatar World Cup controversy for the first time, accusing some of trying to ‘destroy’ FIFA. World football’s chief veteran also claims the critics of Qatar 2022 are motivated by ‘racism and discrimination’ FIFA opened a congress June 10 with under-fire president Sepp Blatter in a combative mood after he said racism was partly behind corruption allegations engulfing Qatar's winning bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

Global football chief Blatter blasted critics trying to “destroy” FIFA on June 9. Blatter, 78, who is poised to announce his candidacy for a fifth term as president of football's global governing body, launched a strong defense of his term during addresses to Asian and African officials.

Speaking to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) gathered in Sao Paulo ahead of FIFA's 64th Congress, Blatter lashed out at his critics.

“Show unity and confirm this unity, it's the best way to reply to all the destructors in the world,” Blatter said.

“They want to destroy, not the game, but they want to destroy the institution, because our institution is too strong,” he added.

Blatter said FIFA was “so strong we are sure they'll not destroy it.” In separate comments to Confederation of African Football (CAF) delegates, Blatter said he believed unnamed critics of Qatar 2022 were motivated by “racism and discrimination.”

‘Hateful’ campaign

African officials in turn pointed the finger directly at the British media over the Qatar claims, accusing news outlets of waging a “hateful, defamatory and degrading” campaign against “the entire...