Editing Sepp Blatter (section)

=== Awarding of 2018 and 2022 World Cup ===

Controversy came in the British press when Russia was awarded the 2018 event, with England receiving just two of their "promised" votes; this controversy was dismissed by Blatter as the English showing themselves to be "bad losers".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9269849.stm|title=Sepp Blatter calls England bid team 'bad losers'|date=8 December 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 December 2010|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923061418/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9269849.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The awarding of the 2022 games to Qatar was also controversial. The illegality of homosexuality in the nation caused Blatter to joke that "I would say they [gay fans] should refrain from any sexual activities",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9284186.stm|title=Fifa boss Sepp Blatter sparks Qatar gay controversy|date=14 December 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 December 2010|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923061410/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9284186.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> which brought criticism from retired basketball player [[John Amaechi]] and [[gay rights]] groups.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9284186.stm ''Fifa boss Sepp Blatter sparks Qatar gay controversy''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611190741/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9284186.stm |date=11 June 2019 }}, BBC</ref>