Franz Beckenbauer: Sepp Blatter is doing a wonderful job at FIFA

The German legend has voiced his support for the beleaguered FIFA president in the wake of the recent controversy surrounding football's governing body

May 29, 2011 8:00:00 AM

By Stefan Coerts

Franz Beckenbauer (Getty Images)

Bayern Munich and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer believes that current FIFA president Sepp Blatter is doing a great job at the world's football governing body.

Blatter replaced Joao Havelange as FIFA president in 1998, but has come under scrutiny in recent weeks. FIFA's ethics committee opened an investigation into the Swiss chief earlier this week because of his knowledge of an alleged bribery scandal, which also involves Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam and CONCACAF supremo Jack Warner.

"He [Blatter] has done a wonderful job so far,” Beckenbauer was quoted as saying by Radio Five Live. “It's not easy. FIFA is like the United Nations - we have 208 members. It's not an easy job to handle, but I think Blatter and his staff are doing a wonderful job.”

He added: “The recent allegations were very damaging for the game, though. It's a disaster for football and I hope when June 1 comes and the election will be over, then all the discussion about corruption is finished and FIFA can go back to normal."

Blatter is the only candidate left for the FIFA presidential elections on June 1 following the withdrawal of Bin Hammam this weekend.

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