FIFA President Joseph Blatter’s recent visit to Brazil ahead of the World Cup has sparked quite a buzz. Upon meeting Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Blatter expressed his excitement for the tournament and his respect for the host country.
He openly shared his hope that Brazil’s national team—the Seleção—will lift the trophy on July 13th, saying, “My wish, which is shared by more than 200 million Brazilians, is that 23 more Brazilians will have the right to touch this beautiful cup.”
This raises an interesting question: does the FIFA President’s public support for a host nation’s team affect perceptions of neutrality? Some wonder if such favoritism could influence refereeing decisions during the competition. For now, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Blatter’s bias has any real impact on the tournament’s fairness.
