In an interview with the German Press Agency dpa, the president of football governing body FIFA Joseph Blatter said the organization needs to look at some changes.
A Task Force which he has introduced will attempt to build-up FIFA's image, which has been damaged by allegations of corruption surrounding the simultaneous announcements of two host nations for the World Cup finals.
Blatter also said that he does not think that it makes sense to announce two hosts at the same time.
dpa: How have you experienced the last few difficult weeks?
Blatter: "They were turbulent weeks. It takes patience and endurance, but in the end everything comes out right."
dpa: It nearly seems like it is Blatter against the rest of the world.
Blatter: "I would not say against the rest of the world, but against a part of the media. And it is not the first time that this has happened. All the things they said about the World Cup in Africa. It was said that it would not work and that it was the worst idea that FIFA and Blatter ever had. But it turned out to be a wonderful tournament. In the world of football there are a number of journalists who are somewhat obsessed."
dpa: How do you judge the FIFA image problem?
Blatter: "We have received some knocks. But to dredge up all the old news about ISL is not OK. And if the world media then picks that up and says FIFA is this or that, then I have to admit that it has caused some image-loss. If I did not see that, I would be unrealistic. Now we need to ensure we get our image back.
dpa: How much do you think your reputation as president has suffered through these scandals?
Blatter: "I have to keep on repeating that not one FIFA official from then or from now has ever been convicted by a court in Switzerland. Nobody was charged or convicted. The members of the executive committee were not convicted for corruption, but for non- adherence of the ethical rules."
dpa: Again, how has you reputation suffered through allegations of corruption and the awarding of two World Cup finals at the same time?
Blatter: "I have not received as much support from associations, clubs and players as I have in these last few days. Since December 2 there have only been congratulatory telegraphs sent from all over the world."
dpa: Does that mean that during this time you have never though of resigning?
Blatter: "Me and resign? My father would come back to earth and would read me the riot act and give me two or three kicks."
dpa: Your critics are saying there should be a new president.
Blatter: "Then they should inform the 208 associations. And why a new president? Just because a German journalist writes it, a new president is needed? One should change the whole crew? I say: Never change a winning team."
dpa: Do you think announcing two hosts at the same time is a good idea?
Blatter: "No, I will not do that again. I could not do it again, even if I wanted to as I will not be there then. I do not think it makes sense to announce two hosts at the same time. We did it now and it worked out well, really well. You need to see, the two old boy networks, which were being pushed in the media failed to come through in the end. In the end that which makes most sense prevailed."
dpa: And why do you think does it make sense to hold the World Cup in Russia and Qatar?
Blatter: "We are taking the World Cup to areas where they never were before. Eastern Europe, Russia. That is a new territory and that fits nicely into the development work of the current president and the former development worker. We are going to a place where the World Cup will manage to do things apart from just commercial ones. And that is something that was highlighted by the executive committee. In 2022 we are going into the Arab world, which also deserves to host the tournament. They put together a very strong bid.
dpa: The Arab world has a right to host the World Cup?
Blatter: "It is not just about the World Cup. It is also about a new and old culture, with other words the entire Islamic world experience a World Cup. After all, a billion people live there and they are also satisfied now and are saying that football is not only about commercial interests, but also about sociocultural issues.
dpa: With respect, but where is the end of the new markets to be found then? in the Antarctic?
Blatter: "No, not the Antarctic. That is too far away. Where have the big footballing tournaments not been held? We need to look at the area where the majority of the world population live. And two third or even more live in Asia. And in Asia we have two huge sub- continents in which 1.2 billion and 1.4 billion people live. India and China would be the new markets.
dpa: They are mainly markets to earn a lot of money.
Blatter: "No, they are not markets to earn money, but rather to develop football. Our sponsors have signed even though they did not know where the 2018 and 2022 finals will be held. They are not interested in the financial aspect. The product FIFA World Cup is an attraction and that you can stage anywhere. And it will always be successful as long football is not only about commercial interests but also about emotions.
dpa: Franz Beckenbauer has suggested that the World Cup in Qatar is played in winter because of the cooler temperatures. What speaks against that?
Blatter: "The basic regulations are against a winter World Cup in Qatar. The conditions where that the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 will held in June and July to accommodate the international calendar. But there are still 12 years until 2022. You do not know what can still happen with the climate.
dpa: How do you want to improve FIFA's image?
Blatter: "By the media coming down from their high horses and returning to the reality and seeing what is happening in the football reality and in the future."
dpa: But which steps does FIFA want to introduce to change the perception that FIFA is untrustworthy and that it has a better standing.
Blatter: "The Task Force for the analysis of the game and of competition will begin its work in January. We have to do that. The last time we did something like that was after the World Cup in 1990. That was 20 years ago and since then football has developed. This time around everything will be looked at to ensure that football remains attractive. Problems of technology, the three-point rule, penalty shoot-outs - yes or no - and the question whether the number of finalists in competitions is the correct one. And there will also be Task Force compliance. The second Task Force will look at how we maintain the image of FIFA at a high level and how we can improve it slightly.