FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke has defended FIFA’s handling of a $10m (£6.5m) payment from the South African government towards a Caribbean diaspora legacy programme.
US prosecutors allege the payment was a bribe to help secure the 2010 World Cup for South Africa.
The South African government insists it was a legitimate payment to promote Caribbean football.
“It was not Fifa’s money. It was a request from official South African authorities and the South African Football Association (SAFA). As long as it is in line with rules we do it,” said Valcke.
“I don’t understand what’s the problem and why I am such a target in this question.”
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has announced he will step down from his role, amid the ongoing allegations of corruption in the governing body, including the indictment of 14 people on corruption charges by US authorities.
He is expected to be replaced at an election on 16 December.
When faced with questions over his own future, Valcke said: “You – the media – have decided that after Blatter I am the head to be cut, fine, but don’t say it is because of this $10m.”
Meanwhile, Uefa chief and former France international Michel Platini declined to comment further on the Fifa scandal.
Platini has previously called for change in Fifa, but speaking at a news conference to mark a year until the start of the European Championship, which France is hosting, he said it was “not the time nor the place” to discuss Fifa matters.
“I do not want the news about Fifa to get in the way of news about Uefa,” he said, adding he would “address these matters” as well as speculation he could stand for Fifa president at some point in the future.
Source: BBC Sport