Fifa’s tenuous tenor has taken on one of his most challenging roles to date: singing the praises of a Qatar World Cup in an attempt to convince the sceptics.
As he goes from opera to the Fifa soap opera as part of Sepp Blatter’s new “solutions committee” of “wise men”, Plácido Domingo underlined his credentials as a long-term fan of the game and backed the controversial decision to let the tiny state host the 2022 finals.
“I’m very fond of Qatar,” the 70-year-old told The Times. “I see the idea of making more and more places popular, just like last year in South Africa. That’s a must because most of the time it’s been a monopoly between Europe and the Americas.
“It was an exception when they chose Japan. That was a very good thing and China should also have the Cup. I do feel one of the Arab countries should have it.
“Qatar is prepared. One of the things that has impressed Fifa is that they are building all the stadiums with tremendous facilities and they are going to make a gift of those stadiums when they’ve finished to countries who don’t have the possibility of building their own. So that counts very much.”
Advertisement
Blatter, the governing body’s president, wants the committee to investigate corruption allegations and make recommendations with the aim of repairing Fifa’s reputation.
However, Domingo sounded a discordant note: he is unsure what he will be doing and what he brings to the role. “I don’t know exactly what they expect from me,” he said. “I would say they want me to give a clean-up of football, but I don’t know what one can do. I think it’s up to Fifa.
“I don’t know that I can do anything about [corruption]. I wish that something could be done. I don’t know what I’m going to be asked to do.
“If I can help the committee in something that’s positive, I will. Otherwise, I will just enjoy going to more and more games.”