Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) President Aleksander Ceferin with officials
Doha: Qatar’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and FIFA World Cup 2022 venues impress everyone, and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) President Aleksander Ceferin is no exception.
The UEFA chief, who is in the country to attend the inauguration of Al Rayyan Venue – the fourth Qatar 2022 stadium – yesterday praised the preparations being made to host the FIFA showpiece, which will be held in the Middle East for the first time in history.
“I have seen a lot as a FIFA Vice President because it (the preparations) is presented to us at the FIFA Council meetings. But now when you come here and see yourself you are more impressed,” Ceferin said during a media round table discussion at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha.
“The infrastructure here is really brilliant, as much as I saw it until now since Monday when I came. With the exception of few stadiums that are not finished yet, I think you are ready to host the World Cup tomorrow. It is really impressive and I am looking forward to come to the World Cup,” the UEFA President said before adding that he was excited to attend the Amir Cup final (today).
With Qatar being included as a guest team in European World Cup qualifying, Ceferin backed the idea saying it will propagate the message that football is all about friendship.
“It is a very good idea. We discussed it quite for a while and I must say that our federations were very positive about it. No one ever said anything against it and also at our executive committee meeting we have 100 percent support for it,” he said.
Qatar will be in Group A that also includes Portugal, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg and Ireland, and the UEFA President said it will give very good for the 2022 World Cup hosts in their preparations for the home event.
“I think it is good for the Qatar national team to compete with the best and with all due respect Europeans are the best. They (Qatar) have a tough group, it will be interesting for them to play Portugal for example,” he said.
“Of course, it's also a message to the world that football is one. It is not like that Europe is closed (to the other world) it is open. We have players all around the world we have a global product. Many people don't know that the Champions League final is watched 70 percent out of Europe and only 30 percent in Europe if you count the numbers. I think it will be great experience for your team and it is great message to show that sports is friendship,” he added.
To a query, the UEFA president said including a non-European team at the UEFA Champions League could be a possibility.
“Everything is possible in European football. We haven't discussed yet but it (Champions League) is a global product. It is biggest club competition in the world of sports and not just football. So we need its promotion out of Europe also but we will need a very competitive team to compete in the Champions League,” said Ceferin.
The UEFA chief also spoke about the financial losses the European football suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic, while hoping for its quick recovery.
“We have to wait for the (COVID-19) situation to end. Only the postponement of Euro costed us much more than 100 million euros. I am sure that European football's losses is in billions. It was a big blow but I know we will be the first one to come out it. The moment normalcy returns we will be back. I am not afraid about European football because we are still in good shape,” he said.
Speaking on the incidents of hurling racial remarks by fans during football matches, the Slovenian said: “Football is a reflection of a society and football fans are the reflection of the society. I am sure that 99.9 percent of football fans are not racists and it is only small number of fans who use football matches to show their idiotic ideology. We have to fight them and we are fighting them. But we need the help of the governments and we need to educate small children about racism.”
Also present on the occasion, Communication Director, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) thanked the UEFA chief for being in Qatar to attend the historic event.
"We thank you for being in Qatar. We are really excited to see you for the inauguration of the Al Rayyan Stadium at the Amir Cup final," she said.
The Amir Cup final between Al Sadd and Al Arabi will mark the inauguration of Al Rayyan Venue today.
