It may not have been such a smart idea to agree to allow Africa to stage the World Cup for the first time in 2010, according to Franz Beckenbauer who says Europe cannot wait 24 years to hold the tournament.
”Europe cannot wait 24 years to host the World Cup,” said the president of the 2006 World Cup organising committee.
”Uefa made a big mistake to accept this rotation in my opinion. Europe is the biggest market, the World Cup without Europe is not a World Cup,” he said in Dubai during a visit at the invitation of Emirates Airlines, co-sponsor of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The 2010 version is to be held in Africa, where Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Libya and South Africa are bidding to host the event.
”I have a different opinion about the rotation,” said the Bayern Munich president.
”The big question is, can one African country organise the World Cup? We are talking about 32 countries. To have more than one million foreigners coming, can you solve this problem?
”Which country can manage this? Maybe one, South Africa can, maybe Morocco because it’s bidding for the fourth time. Egypt, I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s a wise idea to give it to Africa,” he said.
‘The Kaiser’ also commended the ”good decision” by Fifa to abolish the golden goal.
”I was always against the golden goal, like Pele and Bobby Charlton,” he said.
When the Mail & Guardian Online contacted Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of South African Football Association and CEO of South Africa’s bid committee, he said he would take up the matter with Beckenbauer. – Sapa-AFP