Blatter: Sarkozy and Platini contributed in Qatar`s World Cup vote

CAIRO – 1 December 2017: Disgraced former FIFA President Sepp Blatter revealed on Wednesday new evidence of corruption incriminating him in the selection of the country organizing the World Cup in football 2022.

FIFA announced in December 2010 that Qatar was selected to stage the 2022 World Cup on its land; that was during the tenure of Blatter as the head of the International Football Association (FIFA).

However, Blatter reiterated that the French authorities had contributed strongly to Qatar's bid to organize the 2022 World Cup.

"Qatar won thanks to the intervention of high-level politicians in France. That's known and proven ... yes, Sarkozy and Michel Platini," Blatter said in an interview to be aired on French TV on Wednesday.

"This theme is known, it was developed by the French justice system. They came to Switzerland and asked me about this subject. Of course, I helped them. We're not putting in doubt that there was influence over the attribution of the World Cup," he added.

The media appearance of Sepp Blatter, who left the FIFA presidency in 2015 on charges of corruption, comes at a time when evidence has been found that Qatar has given €22 million ($26.1 million) to buy votes to determine the host of the 2022 World Cup.