Russia 2018/Qatar 2022 "Messrs Sarkozy and Wulff tried to influence their vote-makers" (J. Blatter)

Before awarding the World Cups to Qatar and Russia, "there were two political interventions. Messrs Sarkozy and Wulff tried to influence their vote-makers... Those who decided this should also take the responsibility. That is why we now have a World Cup in Qatar," stated Joseph Blatter, the president of FIFA, on 05/07/2015.

Russia and Qatar were awarded the organisation of World Cups 2018 and 2022, respectively, after a vote of the FIFA Executive Committee on 02/12/2010. Members of the FIFA Executive Committee in 2010, the Frenchman Michel Platini and the German Franz Beckenbauer participated in the voting. Michel Platini has always said he had voted for Qatar for 2022, while Franz Beckenbauer never revealed which country he had chosen for 2022. "Germany had real economic interests to vote for Qatar," said Joseph Blatter to the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag on 5/7/2015.

"For Qatar 2022, I have not been influenced" (Michel Platini on 15/10/2014)

• A lunch at the Elysee Palace was attended by Nicolas Sarkozy, then the President of the French Republic and Michel Platini, the UEFA…