Blatter: French, German presidents applied pressure
by Associated Press
BERLINJul 05, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Associated Press
Jul 05, 2015 12:00 am
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in a Sunday newspaper interview that French and German presidents applied political pressure before the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to Russia and Qatar, respectively. Blatter told Welt am Sonntag that "there were two political interventions" from former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German counterpart Christian Wulff before the hosts were announced on Dec. 2, 2010. "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," said Blatter, who said he was tired of taking the blame for something he had no control over.
"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 said. "I'm there now to fight. Not for myself but for FIFA," said Blatter, who added he was on the right path and had no doubts. "Self-doubt is a leader's greatest enemy."
Blatter announced his intention to leave office on June 2, four days after he was re-elected for a fifth four-year term, as pressure built from the American case and a separate Swiss federal investigation focused on possible money laundering linked to the awarding of the World Cups to Russia and Qatar. But he remains defiant despite the scandal engulfing world soccer's governing body. "Is FIFA responsible from the top down for everything in football, what happens in some village somewhere around the world?" asked Blatter, also a target of the American investigation. "Everyone has fears, for example of death, but with regard to my work at FIFA I have no fear. I've nothing to be afraid of," said Blatter. "I'm afraid that they want to wreck FIFA, a work that I helped create," the 79-year-old said.
Blatter said he accepts criticism but "what hurts are hateful tirades. They come from envy."
Blatter cannot be extradited from his native Switzerland to the U.S. without his consent but he risks arrest in many countries. He was not travelling to Canada for the Women's World Cup final in Vancouver on Sunday. "Until everything is clarified I won't take any travel risks," Blatter said. However, he will be traveling to Russia for the qualification draw on July 25 for the 2018 World Cup. Blatter has found support from Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has accused American authorities of meddling in soccer affairs.
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