“Why not? “Football is global”: SFV chairman Blanc about the possible World Cup

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Only one win in the last four games – and that against football dwarf Andorra. Lost lead against Romania, Kosovo and Belarus. And there are always discordant voices from the team, crowned by a public power struggle between captain Grani Xhaka and coach Murat Yakin (49). Criticism of the national coach is growing, the pressure is increasing – but SFV chairman Dominique Blanc (72) supports him.

In an interview with CH Media, Blanc takes a stance on the Yakin issue. And makes it clear: “Internally we have full confidence in our trainer.” It was always clear that they would stay with Yakin until the end of qualifying. Only then do we want to talk about the future.

Yakin still coaching at the European Championships? “As meant”

But future discussions or not – the plan is that Yakin will also look after the team at the finals in Germany next summer. “That’s in the contract.” But Blanc leaves open what will happen to the national coach if the national team misses direct qualification and has to challenge the barrage. “Because we are convinced that we will qualify immediately for the European Championships,” he explains.

The embarrassment in Belarus (3:3), when the Swiss were able to avert bankruptcy in the extreme, did not make the president doubt the national coach. And he also said this personally to Yakin: “The day after the match I confirmed to him what our sporting director Pierluigi Tami had already said the night before, namely that we would not have a coaching conversation.”

No cracks in the team

Blanc sees no reason to worry about the development of the national team. “Maybe some fans underestimated our opponents,” he says. “But it was always clear to us that it wasn’t going to be a piece of cake.” The match against Romania in Lucerne in June (2:2) showed that the team was on the right track. «Let’s take the match against Romania, sensational, perhaps the best in the Yakin era. But in the final phase we conceded two more goals on the counter-attack. Does that make everything bad? No, even if the result is unpleasant.”

Blanc also does not want to exaggerate the dispute between Xhaka and Yakin. «We have two strong characters. For me it is no drama if the leaders do not have the same opinion. It is important that they exchange ideas, discuss things and find solutions for the good of the team.” But he sees no cracks in the team. “Especially not” a rift between the team and the coach.

World Cup in Saudi Arabia? “Why not”

The SFV boss is also asked about his position on the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. The tournament in Mohammed bin Salman’s kingdom can hardly be avoided, at least since Australia decided not to participate. Blanc says: “Of course there are reasons to be against it. But at the same time you can also ask yourself: why not? Football is global.”

Blanc is certain that a World Cup in Saudi Arabia, in a country where the human rights situation is viewed critically, can have a positive impact on conditions on the ground. “We can help promote social development. We have formed a human rights group with other UEFA members through which we can influence FIFA.”

In Qatar, people have already committed themselves to improvements – with success, according to the French-speaking Swiss. “There have been some improvements in labor law.” The SFV does not want to avoid its responsibility. And play an active role in influencing FIFA in certain areas. “Our goal is to establish rules that apply to FIFA in the areas of sustainability, social responsibility and human rights,” Blanc said. (sbe)

Source : Blick