DPA/Sao Paolo


German football icon Franz Beckenbauer (right) has denied any wrongdoing related to the selection of Russia and Qatar as World Cup hosts in 2018 and 2022, telling Germany’s Bild newspaper in remark published yesterday he had “absolutely nothing to hide.”
“To be honest, I don’t understand the whole stir,” he told Bild about reports that he had travelled to Qatar before and after the Gulf nation was selected 2022 host in 2010. “I have often said that I am the wrong partner to talk to about corruption.”
Beckenbauer travelled to Qatar in 2010 at the invitation of Mohamed bin Hammam, the former FIFA official, and again in 2011 as an adviser to a Hamburg-based company.
Beckenbauer took part in the 2018 and 2022 votes as a FIFA executive at the time.
“There is still a vote secrecy and this applies to me too,” he told Bild, adding that he had followed the recommendations of the German Football Federation.
Britain’s Daily Telegraph and Germany’s Die Welt reported that Beckenbauer refused to answer FIFA investigator Michael Garcia who is probing possible wrongdoings relating to the selection of Russia and Qatar as World Cup hosts.
Beckenbauer rejected those reports, saying he had only asked to have Garcia’s questions in the German language instead of the original English but his request was rejected.
“I was ready to answer all the relevant questions. However, they were in legal English and I did not fully understand such complicated material,” he said. “I asked kindly for a discussion in the German language and this was rejected.”
“I only have an adviser status with FIFA. I am no more a commission member and therefore I am not obliged to talk to Mr. Garcia.”
He added that he had raised concerns about the warm weather in Qatar and had suggested holding the tournament there in the winter.