Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has labelled the decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup as a 'mistake'.
The 86-year-old was the president of world football's governing body when the country was awarded the tournament in 2010.
It will be the first time that the competition has been hosted in the Middle East in its 92-year-history, however concerns over human rights abuses have overshadowed the build-up to the tournament.
In an interview with Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger, Blatter revealed that he did not agree with the decision to award the spectacle to Qatar.
"Football and the World Cup are too big for it. It was a bad choice and I was responsible for that as president at the time," he told the newspaper.
Qatar won the right to host the tournament by a 14-8 vote by FIFA's executive committee, beating the United States. Former UEFA president Michel Platini was responsible for the outcome of the vote, according to Blatter.
"Thanks to the four votes of Platini and his [UEFA] team, the World Cup went to Qatar rather than the United States. It's the truth," he added.
Voting criteria was changed to consider social factors and human rights in 2012 after concerns over the treatment of migrant workers, Blatter also revealed.
The Swiss national was forced to leave his position in 2015 over allegations he arranged a transfer of £1.6m to Platini, who was also forced to step down from his role at FIFA. The duo were charged with fraud last November but found not guilty at trial in July.
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