FIFA president Sepp Blatter has apologised to South
Africa over events surrounding their failed bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
Blatter was a staunch supporter of South Africa in the build-up to the 2006 vote last July.
But the shock abstention of Oceania delegate Charles Dempsey from the final round of voting gave Germany a 12-11 victory over South Africa and foiled the strongest challenge by an African nation.
Speaking in Johannesburg, Blatter said: "I would like to apologise to the South African people, President Thabo Mbeki and the great man Nelson Mandela for what happened regarding the 2006 World Cup bid.
"South Africans must remember they have not lost completely. You won the credibility and the respect of the world and did not lose because you were not competitive enough."
Blatter said South Africa lost because of an imbalance within the 24-member FIFA executive committee that decides World Cup hosts. Europe has eight votes and Africa only four.
He added that a special FIFA congress in Argentina during July will debate rotating the World Cup between continents to avoid a repeat of the 2006 bid debacle.
AFP