reexx
29/10/2015, 18h07
The agreement to hand Russia the 2018 World Cup before the vote took place involved "big players" in Fifa, according to Sepp Blatter's adviser.
Klaus Stohlker said there were "behind-the-curtain" talks involving members of the Fifa executive committee.
Suspended Fifa president Blatter has suggested (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34657900) there was an agreement to give the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and the USA respectively.
The 2022 event was later awarded to Qatar after a swing in the voting.
"Before the decision was taken, in the case of Russia and the USA there were 'behind-the-curtain' talks," said Stohlker, who is acting as Blatter's personal spokesman during his 90-day ban.
"It was not everyone in the Fifa executive committee but it was the big players that had these talks."
The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments is the subject of an ongoing Swiss criminal investigation. It was begun alongside a US inquiry following the arrest and indictment of several top executives by the US Department of Justice on corruption charges.
Swiss Blatter, 79, is serving a 90-day ban alongside Uefa chief Michel Platini, 60, and both deny any wrongdoing.
Klaus Stohlker said there were "behind-the-curtain" talks involving members of the Fifa executive committee.
Suspended Fifa president Blatter has suggested (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34657900) there was an agreement to give the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and the USA respectively.
The 2022 event was later awarded to Qatar after a swing in the voting.
"Before the decision was taken, in the case of Russia and the USA there were 'behind-the-curtain' talks," said Stohlker, who is acting as Blatter's personal spokesman during his 90-day ban.
"It was not everyone in the Fifa executive committee but it was the big players that had these talks."
The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments is the subject of an ongoing Swiss criminal investigation. It was begun alongside a US inquiry following the arrest and indictment of several top executives by the US Department of Justice on corruption charges.
Swiss Blatter, 79, is serving a 90-day ban alongside Uefa chief Michel Platini, 60, and both deny any wrongdoing.