Current laws [in Qatar] mean drinking alcohol in public is forbidden, while bars and nightclubs are almost non-existent. Another issue could be public affection, and gay groups fear problems in a country where homosexuality is illegal.
When asked about such issues, Blatter initially joked by saying: "I would say they should refrain from any sexual activities."
He then continued on a more serious note: "We are definitely living in a world of freedom and I'm sure when the World Cup will be in Qatar in 2022, there will be no problems. You see in the Middle East the opening of this culture, it's another culture because it's another religion, but in football we have no boundaries.
"We open everything to everybody and I think there shall not be any discrimination against any human beings be it on this side or that side, be it left, right or whatever. If they want to watch a match somewhere in Qatar 2022, I'm sure they will be admitted to such matches."
Blatter feels that in the 12 years before the competition there will be plenty of time to sort out any problems that may arise, and appealed for calm. "I think there is too much concern for a competition that will be done in 12 years," he said.
"But this gives me the opportunity to say that in Fifa, and this is in the statutes of Fifa, whether it is in politics, whether it is in religion, we don't want racism, and we know what this means, and neither do we want discrimination. What we want is just to open this game to everybody and open it to all cultures and this is what we are doing in 2022."
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