24 May 2011

World Club Cup to stay in Japan

6:12 am on 24 May 2011

Football's world governing body, FIFA, have confirmed Japan will host December's Club football World Cup as scheduled, dismissing fears the country's nuclear crisis could force a switch of venue.

The FIFA president Sepp Blatter met Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to pledge support for the relief efforts following the deadly March the 11th earthquake and tsunami.

Blatter delivered his verdict after receiving assurances that teams and officials would not be exposed to radiation from the crippled nuclear plant 150 miles north of Tokyo.

The 9.0-magnitude quake and giant tsunami left 28,000 dead or homeless, devastating large areas of Japan's north-east.

The 15-metre tsunami wave tore though the Fukushima power plant, triggering fears of a Chernobyl-style meltdown and as a result also plunged sporting events into chaos.