Joseph Blatter, the former president of FIFA, defended the organization’s involvement in the controversial financial transactions linked to the 2006 World Cup during his testimony at a German court on Thursday. Speaking remotely from Switzerland, Blatter stated that FIFA's role was limited to facilitating a bank transfer and that the organization did not inquire about the purpose of the payments. "We made a bank transfer and didn’t ask about the reason," he said, describing FIFA's involvement as merely providing a banking service.
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Blatter, 89, who led FIFA from 1998 to 2016, was referring to the payments of 10 million Swiss francs (approximately 11 million dollars) and 6.7 million euros (about 7 million dollars), central to the ongoing case. The court is examining allegations of tax evasion involving the German Football Association (DFB).
Originally, the 6.7 million euros were intended for an event celebrating the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. However, the funds were later redirected as payments to FIFA officials, sparking accusations of financial misconduct. Blatter maintained that FIFA was merely responsible for processing the transactions and was not involved in the allocation of the funds, which he likened to the role of a bank.
This case has been part of a long-running investigation into the financial dealings surrounding the 2006 World Cup, which has been tainted by various scandals. The outcome of the trial could have major consequences for FIFA’s future financial practices and its reputat
ion.
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