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FIFA president Sepp Blatter, speaking to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, says that the presidents of France and Germany had tried to influence the decision for choosing the venue for hosting the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup, as reported by The Guardian.
The 79-year-old told that “two political interventions” by French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German head of state Christian Wulff had resulted in the quadrennial tournament heading to Qatar.
Former German Football Federation (DFB) president and FIFA executive member Theo Zwanziger has been a vocal critic of Qatar’s candidacy, asking the oil-rich nation to be stripped of its hosting right, as reported by Reuters. Blatter though suggests the blame lies with Germany themselves.
“Messrs Sarkozy and Wulff tried to influence their voting representatives. That’s why we now have a World Cup in Qatar. Those who decided it should take responsibility for it,” Blatter told.
The Swiss suggested that his hands were tied as he has no role in the voting to decide the venue for the sport’s showcase event.
“I act on the leadership principal. If a majority of the executive committee wants a World Cup in Qatar, then I have to accept that, “Blatter told Welt am Sonntag.
The governing body has been engulfed in a corruption scandal ever since Russia and Qatar were awarded hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at the back end of the year 2010. The matter attained worrying status after US authorities arrested several FIFA officials, a day ahead of the presidential elections, which Blatter won.
The Swiss subsequently announced that he will be stepping down from the post after facing severe criticism in the aftermath of the mandate, especially from UEFA who hinted that they could break away from FIFA.
Stepping up his tirade against Germany, Blatter hinted that Wulff had pressurised the DFB to vote in favour of the Arab nation due to economic reasons.
He told: “Look at the German companies. (Railway company) Deutsche Bahn, (Construction firm) Hochtief and many more had projects in Qatar even before the World Cup was awarded.”
Blatter who earlier in the week said that he will go to heaven one day, continued to deny any wrong-doing.
“Is FIFA responsible from the top down for everything in football? I have no fear with regard to my work at FIFA, “ Blatter told. “I’m afraid they want to wreck FIFA, a work that I helped create.”
