Der Kaiser
Franz Beckenbauer was a phenomenally graceful football player for club and country, but his refusal to co-operate with a FIFA corruption inquiry shows a very different side of his nature.
Sadly the whole business stinks to high heaven and I think it it would be much better for the long term health of the game if some of the national football federations in Europe thought seriously about pulling out of FIFA altogether and setting up a rival organisation.
Because the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar makes about as much sense as holding an international spear fishing competition on the River Clyde.
‘Ask me in German’
THE German football star Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greatest players of all time, has said he did not co-operate with a Fifa inquiry into corruption because he did not wish to answer complex questions in English, writes
By Jon Ungoed-Thomas - The Sunday Times
Franz Beckenbauer: met Bin Hammam in 2011 (EPA)
THE German football star Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greatest players of all time, has said he did not co-operate with a Fifa inquiry into corruption because he did not wish to answer complex questions in English, writes Jon Ungoed-Thomas.
Beckenbauer, who lifted the World Cup as a player and manager, has been banned from football activities for 90 days for failing to co-operate with the investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The former German captain said he had been willing to co-operate with the inquiry, but wanted the questions to be put to him in German. He was a member of the Fifa executive board in 2010 when the 2018 World Cup was awarded to Russia and the 2022 Cup was awarded to Qatar.
In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, he said: “I have absolutely nothing to hide and I am clearly also of the opinion that there must be sanctions for those responsible when corruption is proved.
“I was ready to answer all pertinent questions, but they sent them to me in a legal English that I could not understand in such a complex case. So I politely asked that the interview be held in German and I was refused.”
The Sunday Times revealed last week that Beckenbauer travelled to Qatar in October 2009 as a guest of Mohamed bin Hammam. He then met the emir as part of Qatar’s campaign.
The documents also show Beckenbauer arranged a private meeting with Bin Hammam in London in May 2011. The next month Beckenbauer went to Qatar as part of a business delegation for ER Capital Holding, a German shipping firm in which Beckenbauer worked as a consultant.
Beckenbauer said he had made clear from the outset that he considered a summer tournament in Qatar would be impossible. He said: “I declared just after [the vote] that the choice of Qatar surprised me.” He has not disclosed whom he voted for.
THE German football star Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greatest players of all time, has said he did not co-operate with a Fifa inquiry into corruption because he did not wish to answer complex questions in English, writes Jon Ungoed-Thomas.
Beckenbauer, who lifted the World Cup as a player and manager, has been banned from football activities for 90 days for failing to co-operate with the investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The former German captain said he had been willing to co-operate with the inquiry, but wanted the questions to be put to him in German. He was a member of the Fifa executive board in 2010 when the 2018 World Cup was awarded to Russia and the 2022 Cup was awarded to Qatar.
In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, he said: “I have absolutely nothing to hide and I am clearly also of the opinion that there must be sanctions for those responsible when corruption is proved.
“I was ready to answer all pertinent questions, but they sent them to me in a legal English that I could not understand in such a complex case. So I politely asked that the interview be held in German and I was refused.”
The Sunday Times revealed last week that Beckenbauer travelled to Qatar in October 2009 as a guest of Mohamed bin Hammam. He then met the emir as part of Qatar’s campaign.
The documents also show Beckenbauer arranged a private meeting with Bin Hammam in London in May 2011. The next month Beckenbauer went to Qatar as part of a business delegation for ER Capital Holding, a German shipping firm in which Beckenbauer worked as a consultant.
Beckenbauer said he had made clear from the outset that he considered a summer tournament in Qatar would be impossible. He said: “I declared just after [the vote] that the choice of Qatar surprised me.” He has not disclosed whom he voted for.
