Blatter's half-jokes have been known to fall very flat in the past, most notably his statement back in 2004 that women's soccer should feature "more feminine uniforms . . . tighter shorts, for example." On this occasion, Blatter avoided any talk about corruption and bribery charges facing FIFA over its decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup. Instead, he said FIFA is "shaping society," a scary thought to some, and that the organization must become a "pioneer of hope."