July 8 – Former German president Christian Wulff has again rejected allegations by Sepp Blatter that he tried to influence proceedings ahead of Qatar being selected to stage the 2022 World Cup.
In his latest interview as he prepares to step down as FIFA president, Blatter claimed in the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag that Wulff and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy had tried to influence their voting representatives before the 2018 and 2022 tournaments were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively in December 2010.
However, Wulff’s office issued a blunt statement on Monday refuting Blatter’s claims. “The statement by Mr (Sepp) Blatter regarding former President Christian Wulff is false,” it said.
Franz Beckenbauer, who was Germany’s FIFA executive committee member at the time, has never revealed how he voted.
UEFA president Michel Platini, believed to be weighing up whether or not to go for Blatter’s job now that the veteran Swiss will shortly be out of the picture, has publicly stated he voted for Qatar but that “neither Sarkozy nor anyone” asked him to do so.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1731699999labto1731699999ofdlr1731699999owedi1731699999sni@w1731699999ahsra1731699999w.wer1731699999dna1731699999