Blatter: U-20 World Cup will go on as planned

FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Alessandro Della Bella/AP

FIFA President Sepp Blatter says the Under-20 World Cup will go ahead next week despite anti-government protests in Turkey.

The 24-nation tournament is set to start on Friday next week in seven cities in Turkey, which has faced nearly two weeks of the biggest anti-government protests in decades.

Blatter said on Wednesday FIFA was in contact with Turkish “political authorities, especially with the security.” He added that “the guarantees have been given and I am sure that nothing will happen.”

He says the tournament “is a good opportunity to show that football can bring people together. We shall stay there and I am sure that political authorities in Turkey are aware of that.”

Blatter was in Serbia on an official visit.

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