Franz Beckenbauer, a member of FIFA's executive committee, said Tuesday he has lost some confidence in football's governing body after Russia and Qatar were awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively. At the start of this month, Russia beat England, Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium to win a ballot of FIFA's 22-strong executive members in Zurich for the rights to host the 2018 World Cup.
Qatar then saw off bids from South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States for the 2022 tournament, but Beckenbauer says he was disturbed after details of the voting were later leaked. "I have less confidence in FIFA," the German legend told daily Bild.
"I'm disappointed how FIFA handled things after the voting. "The seven losers were all left in disgrace. Especially England and Australia." Beckenbauer is set to stand down from the executive committee next March, but he says FIFA's conduct in the wake of the decisions has left a bad taste in his mouth.