The recent stadium disasters in Africa will not affect plans to stage the 2010 World Cup on that continent, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said today.
"What Africa needs now is guidance and help to learn from these lessons," Blatter said at the end of a two-day visit to Sri Lanka.
Blatter, the first serving FIFA president to visit the country since 1977, said world soccer's governing body will raise stadium safety concerns with members at its July congress.
Stampedes have killed more than 170 people at matches in Africa this year, including at least 120 in Ghana earlier this month - the continent's worst sporting tragedy.
"We will give top priority to stadium safety and security," Blatter told a news conference.
"We want to make sure we get the message to all our members so that no one has an excuse," he said.
All 204 members of FIFA will attend the July congress in Buenos Aires.
Blatter said some of the deaths, particularly at Johannesburg's Ellis Park, could have been averted if FIFA safety procedures had been followed.
"In South Africa it appears that the referee started the match before there was complete order outside the ground. That is against FIFA procedure," said Blatter.
At least 43 people were crushed to death at Ellis Park when spectators tried to force their way into the stadium after the game began.