Asia will not boycott the 2002 World Cup as it has formally agreed to a plan for the number of places in the tournament, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in Las Vegas on October 2.

　 "The threat of any boycott has been set off with a red card somewhere and will not come up again," said Blatter.

　 However, Blatter admitted that Asian delegations were not happy about the plan, under which Asia, that has four automatic berths, will have a chance for a fifth spot against Europe's 14th place team, instead of a playoff against the Oceanian champion.

　 "You cannot have happiness for everybody, it is not possible," Blatter said. "But we have peace in the football family now."

　 For the 1998 edition, Asia had three automatic berths and got another spot when Iran won a playoff with Australia, the Oceania champion.

　 Nowsdays, Asia gets four automatic berths for 2002, with its third team in qualifying playing Europe's 14th place team for a fifth berth.

　 Meanwhile, the two-day meeting of the FIFA executive committee also set the dates for the next World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Korea and Japan.

　 South Korea will play host to the opening match of the next World Cup on June 1, 2002, with the final to take place June 30 in Japan. (Xinhua)