When asked by the paper about rumors of corruption surrounding the decisions to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments on Russia and Qatar respectively, Blatter responded: "World Cups being purchased…. I am reminded of the World Cup allotment for 2006, when someone left the room at the last moment. And instead of 10:10, the vote was suddenly 10:9 in favor of Germany…. Perhaps in that situation also I was too well-meaning and naïve."
The reaction from Germany and elsewhere has been prompt. "I am unable to comprehend the statements and insinuations from Sepp Blatter," Franz Beckenbauer, the éminence grise of German football, said in an interview with the German tabloid Bild on Monday. Theo Zwanziger, former head of the German Football Association, told Sport Bild Online that "I know of no indications that anything at all was askew in any way."
Even former FIFA functionary Guido Tognoni blasted Blatter for his comments saying "Sepp Blatter was always there. If Sepp Blatter now accuses the Germans of anything, then they apply to him as well." Speaking to German television on Monday morning, Tognoni added, "he could have stopped everything if it wasn't clean…. To make accusations now is rather cheap I feel. The fact is, things have happened during Sepp Blatter's FIFA presidency that shouldn't have happened." Full story...
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