The clock is ticking on the 2006-07 European season. The majority of domestic races have been sorted out, and we now know that AC Milan will be meeting Liverpool (in a deiicious rematch of their 2005 matchup at Istanbul) in the Champions League final at Athens May 23.

But the World Cup is never far from our minds, and developments in the last few weeks have thrust Copa Mundial front and center once more. And we suspect we might be hearing more news leading up to, and immediately after, the upcoming FIFA Congress. So, what really is going on with World Cup 2010, or, down the road a little further, World Cup 2014?

Despite our many complaints about Sepp Blatter, we have never labeled the man a dummy. Calculating, yes. Misguided at times, absolutely. But the Seppmeister is nobody’s fool, which is why we weren’t surprised when Blatter went public with his “contingency plan” for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Blatter’s comments to BBC TV’s Inside Sport program broadcast April 30, were reported on the BBC Web site (www.bbc.co.uk) the same day.

“Other countries are ready to organize the World Cup”, Blatter is quoted as saying, although he implied they would not be needed. He told the BBC that the United States, England, Mexico, Japan and Spain would be ready to step in. “Definitely we have a possibility to go somewhere else if something happens,” he said. “It was the same case as in Germany. Something can happen. A natural catastrophe or whatever, or a big change in society, everybody against football.

“But then for the time being the Plan B is South Africa, and the Plan C we definitely must have is a possibility to go somewhere else, but it must be a natural catastrophe.” So, perhaps Blatter, in his inimitable way, is merely trying to quell the whispers that have been floating around the world football community for a while now, that South Africa might not be able to pull off the big party three years hence. And maybe, by saying that South Africa was both his Plan A and Plan B, Blatter was assuring everyone that things were okay in Johannesburg.

The fact FIFA has a contingency plan is no surprise at all. But that Blatter felt compelled to come forward with it in a public forum is rather interesting, to say the least.

Let’s switch reels and rewind back to early 1983. For those fans with long memories, you’ll recall that Colombia was slated to host the 1986 World Cup. Indeed, as they were winding up the 1982 Copa Mundial in Spain, Colombia was very visible in the ceremonies, accepting the “handoff” from then-FIFA boss Joao Havelange for 1986.

Colombia, however, was having all sorts of organizational problems. Construction, in particular, had fallen dangerously behind schedule. Havelange, along with his then-sidekick (and deputy secretary) Blatter, wasn’t about to watch FIFA’s ultimate (and only) cash cow go down the drain because of an inept organizing structure. When it became apparent Colombia wasn’t up to the task, Havelange acted swiftly, and pulled the ‘86 World Cup from Colombia. Fortunately, Mexico was ready, willing, and able to step in on short notice and pick up the ball. The 1970 Copa Mundial had been a huge success in Mexico. Stadiums were mostly ready, and the infrastructure was in place to handle the event. Although the USA also made a pitch to become the emergency host, Havelange went back to his old reliable friend, Mexico, which saved the day. (Although there was more nervousness to come in fall of ‘85 when a major earthquake hit Mexico, but the stadiums escaped unscathed, and the show went on). More recently, the 2003 Women’s World Cup was moved from China to the United States, due to the SARS outbreak. That was a true emergency situation, and the USA had only a couple of months to get prepared, and pulled it off. A more reasonable scenario for a replacement host, however, would be at least a 3-year window to get prepared, as Mexico did for 1986. Which means if South Africa appears on track to get things ready throughout this calendar year, it is doubtful Blatter would pull the rug. But he still might. You see, the World Cup has become such a big-money event, with major advertisers behind it, that anything less than a smooth show is unacceptable. There are provisos built into the contracts that provide escape hatches for the advertisers if FIFA can’t uphold its end of the bargain. Which means the venue and organizing committee had better be prepared, or else.

It is worth noting that Blatter didn’t see fit to go public with any such contingency plan prior to World Cup 2006. There was never any question that the Germans wouldn’t be ready last summer. Indeed, they were far enough ahead of schedule that they were able to allot sufficient resources to security issues, which in this day and age are paramount for such a huge event. And, beyond construction delays, more than a few folks are wondering if South Africa can handle the security factors that are an unfortunate byproduct of major events these days. Will the South Africans be up to it? The fact there isn’t unanimity on the subject from the world football community suggests that we’ll still have to wait and see. Blatter, who championed the World Cup for the dark continent and cajoled enough votes from the delegation to win the FIFA presidency, is unlikely to do anything before the upcoming FIFA Congress May 31 in Zurich, where he stands unopposed for another term. After that, however, Blatter’s considerable survival instincts will kick into gear. And if there’s a chance the South Africans won’t be able to live up to their end of the bargain, and FIFA stands to lose money because of it, you’ll see where Blatter’s real priorities lie.