South Africa ‘unequivocally’ denies World Cup bribe

South African Football Association officials did not appear at a scheduled Wednesday press conference to address allegations around a possible bribe paid during the 2010 World Cup bidding process.

South Africa’s minister of sport Fikile Mbalula did address the media though. His main point being: “South Africa have not paid any bribes to secure the 2010 World Cup.

“I unequivocally state: this payment was not a bribe...not a bribe, but a duly allocated payment for an approved programme ... We cannot understand why this is alleged to have been a bribe... everything was on the record... emails, meetings, public statements.”

He says the $10 million paid to the diaspora legacy programme in the Caribean was not a bribe, but a duly allocated payment for an approved programme, not publicised at the time as he claims it was not deemed newsworthy by journalists.

“We have a responsibility to defend the legacy of the World Cup, and our country’s reputation, integrity and sovereignty. We are not opposed to the US investigation and will not stand in the way of it. [But]they must share their evidence for the allegations which have negatively impacted our reputation.”

Sepp Blatter rocked the world of soccer on Tuesday by saying he would step down as Fifa president in the wake of a corruption investigation that now includes the 79-year-old chief himself.

Blatter, who has led soccer’s world governing body since 1998, is being investigated by US prosecutors and the FB I, a person who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters late on Tuesday. An FBI spokesman declined comment.

News of Blatter's investigation was earlier reported by The New York Times and ABC News. Blatter has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Fifa did not respond to a request for comment on Blatter being under investigation.

Meanwhile Interpol has issued ‘international wanted persons’ alerts for two former Fifa officials and four corporate executives as part of the investigation into football-related corruption.

The ‘red notices’ have been issued at the request of the US justice department for charges including racketeering, conspiracy and corruption.

Former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner from Trinidad and ex-Fifa member Nicolas Leoz from Paraguay have been named. Warner is currently on bail in Trinidad and Leoz reported to be under house arrest in Paraguay.

The others named are all sports marketing or broadcast executives.

The red notices are used by the international police organisation Interpol to inform its member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for a wanted person with a view to extradition.

Cancelled meeting

Uefa president Michel Platini, one of the possible candidates to succeed Blatter, has also postponed a meeting of European associations in Berlin on Saturday.

Platini said: “It is with great concern that I, like most football fans around the world, have been following the daily developments regarding the investigations pertaining to Fifa corruption matters.

“Due to (Tuesday’s) announcement and the uncertain and unpredictable nature of the investigations, I have decided that it would be more appropriate to postpone the meeting that was announced last week, and which could have taken place in Berlin this weekend.

“Considering new information is revealed every day, I believe it is wiser to take time to assess the situation, so together we can take a position on this issue. There will be other opportunities for us to meet in the coming weeks and by then hopefully more light will have been shed on this matter. During the weekend in Berlin, we will aim to focus our attention on one of many great occasions at Uefa — the Uefa Champions League final.”

Shock resignation

Blatter, a Swiss national who has been a dominant presence at Fifa for decades, announced his decision to step down at a hastily arranged news conference in Zurich, six days after police raided a hotel in the city and arrested several Fifa officials - and just four days after he was re-elected to a fifth term as Fifa president.

He said an election to choose a new president would be held as soon as possible, though a Fifa official said it would probably not take place until at least December.

“Fifa needs profound restructuring,” Blatter said. “I decided to stand again to be elected because I was convinced it was the best option for football. Although the members of Fifa gave me a new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world.”

Blatter’s decision to step down as Fifa is mired in the worst crisis in its history was welcomed by his critics.

European football federation chief Michel Platini, a French former international player and favourite to succeed Blatter as Fifa president, said: “It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision.”

The second favourite on the list, Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, who withdrew from last week’s election after winning 73 votes to Blatter’s 133 in the first round, stopped short of confirming he would run again. Asked if there should be a fresh start at Fifa, he told Britain’s Channel 4 News: “I’m willing to help.”

Greg Dyke, chairman of the English Football Association and one of Blatter's most outspoken critics, said it was "good news for world football", but then questioned Blatter's motive.

“Who got him? Who shot him?” he asked. “I don’t believe he went for any sort of moral basis so something has happened between then and now which means he has to resign.”

Fifa was stunned last week by the announcement of a US investigation into alleged widespread financial wrongdoing stretching back more than two decades.

Swiss authorities also launched their own criminal probe into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively.

• Interpol's International wanted persons (the sports marketing or broadcast executives):

Alejandro Burzaco, an Argentinian national and controlling principal of Torneos y Competencias SA, a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.

Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis, Argentinian nationals, controlling principals of Full Play Group SA, a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.

Jose Margulies (also known as Jose Lazaro), Brazilian national, controlling principal of Valente Corp. and Somerton Ltd., broadcasting businesses.