Email: Blatter Discussed $10M Bribe

FIFA President Sepp Blatter knew about a $10 million bribe from South Africa to secure the 2010 World Cup, according to an email obtained by the London Sunday Times. FIFA maintains that this does not show that Blatter was involved in the bribe. The email was apparently sent by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke. “I have never received confirmation but more important I would like to know when the transfer can be done,” Valcke wrote, referring to earlier exchanges about he $10 million, before adding that his inquiry is based on communication between Blatter and former South African president Thabo Mbeki. “That constitutes information, not involvement,” a FIFA spokeswoman said. “As previously stated and confirmed by the South African authorities, this programme was initiated by the South African government for the Caribbean and it was publicly announced by them at the time.”