'Qatar is a mistake,' says former FIFA President Sepp Blatter

FILE PHOTO: Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks to the media after a trial at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

ZURICH (Reuters) - Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA when Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup hosting rights in 2010, told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger "Qatar is a mistake," adding that "the choice was bad."

The Qatar decision has been marred by controversy, including allegations of corruption and human rights violations, since it was first announced.