ZURICH (AP) — Sepp Blatter says FIFA is not corrupt and England has reacted like a bad loser since Russia and Qatar were chosen as 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts.
Blatter was quoted in the Swiss weekly Weltwoche on Wednesday, saying “there is no systematic corruption” at soccer’s governing body.
FIFA suspended two of Blatter’s colleagues from last week’s World Cup hosting votes after a British newspaper alleged bribe-taking and vote-rigging.
Blatter reminded FIFA voters immediately before polling of British media “evils,” and England’s 2018 bid officials later accused voters of breaking promises of support.
Blatter is surprised by the reaction in England, which he calls “the motherland of fair play,” as it shows “western arrogance.”
