FIFA President Sepp Blatter has dismissed suggestions the 2010 World Cup could be moved from South Africa to another country, insisting the event will proceed as planned. Rumours have been circulating in the media for months that FIFA were looking for an alternative host country because of concerns South Africa had fallen hopelessly behind in their preparations. But Blatter, in an interview broadcast on Australian television network SBS on Sunday, said the speculation was wrong and the tournament would remain in South Africa. They will be ready, no problems. They will be ready," Blatter said. "The plan C and B in my opinion is still South Africa." Australia had been suggested as a possible option after local soccer officials announced they would be willing to take over the running of the 2010 tournament, but Blatter said Australia would have to wait their turn. The 2014 World Cup has already been promised to South America, leaving 2018 as the earliest opportunity Australia could even lodge a bid to stage the tournament. "Australia shall be an option for organising the next World Cup after 2014," Blatter said. "Australia can also be an option to take one of the big youth competitions of FIFA, for instance the under-20 World Cup. "This is now something that Australia should be attached to... but definitely not from South Africa. The South African government is to spend more than 15bn rand ($2bn) on hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The country's finance minister Trevor Manuel announced the figures to the South African parliament last week. The bulk of the money will be spent on building new football stadiums and refurbishing existing ones. There is public concern that South Africa will be poorly prepared and not able to afford to host the event. Manuel outlined his plans for the World Cup while delivering a medium-term budget policy statement to parliament. He told members of the national assembly that 8.4bn rand ($1.1bn) would be spent in building five new stadiums and upgrading existing facilities, while 6.4bn rand ($800m) was to be invested in public transport initiatives and supporting infrastructure. The money will be spent over the next three years. Manuel told assembly members that hosting the event would require the "effort of all South Africans". "The 2010 FIFA World Cup provides South Africa and the region with a once-in-a- generation opportunity to showcase our land and our hospitality in a sporting festival that knows no bounds," he added. In addition to spending on stadiums and public transport, money is to be set aside to help fight crime. The government intends to recruit an extra 8,000 police officers and 2,000 civilians to provide security during the tournament. Manuel said that sustained economic growth and a sound fiscal position had made the money needed for investment available.
