FIFA under fire over disgraceful treatment of England

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Beckenbauer, who was one of the 22 members of the FIFA executive committee eligible to vote, believes the world governing body have spent more time criticising the losers in the bidding process than praising the winners.

England were knocked out in the first round of voting earlier this month having received just two votes and members of the bid team complained of being lied to by committee members. Australia also complained bitterly having received only one vote for their bid to stage the tournament in 2022, which was surprisingly won by Qatar.

FIFA have since accused England of being sore losers but Beckenbauer said: "I am disappointed with the way FIFA have dealt with the results.

They have made a disgrace of the seven defeated nations, particularly England and Australia."
The former Germany captain, who had already announced he was resigning from the committee in March, is also furious that FIFA made details of the voting process public.

He said: "The executive committee were told that neither we nor the public would get to know the precise voting figures. Then, a few hours later, I hear on the radio who had received how many votes. My faith in FIFA is limited."

Beckenbauer's comments came only hours after FIFA president Sepp Blatter caused a furore by apparently joking that gay fans travelling to the 2022 World Cup should "refrain from any sexual activity" in a country where homosexuality is illegal.