”As former President of the Republic of South Africa, I have noted reports alleging that bribes were solicited and paid to some officials of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in exchange for our country to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup,” Mbeki said in a statement.
”I am not aware of anybody who solicited a bribe from the government for the purpose of our country being awarded the right to host the World Cup. As Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, has stated on behalf of the government, no public money was ever used to pay a bribe. I wish to state that the government that I had the privilege to lead would never have paid any bribe even if it were solicited.”
The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were investigating the alleged corruption and bribery which on Wednesday saw a number of top FIFA officials arrested at its Switzerland headquarters.
