FIFA president Sepp Blatter has announced today that the winners of next summer's World Cup in Japan and South Korea will not be given automatic qualification for the next finals. It will be the first time in more than 70 years of World Cup history that the victors will have to go through a qualifying campaign to ensure their appearance at the subsequent World Cup.
"We have taken quite a historic decision today. The champions of Korea and Japan 2002 will not be automatically qualified. This is new - and even brand new," said Blatter at a FIFA executive meeting in the Korean city of Busan.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
