Calls to ban Der Kaiser
Fifa came under pressure yesterday to ban one of its senior officials, Franz Beckenbauer, from football after the German admitted refusing to cooperate with the investigation into Qatar's 2022 soccer World Cup bid.
Beckenbauer confirmed last week that he had snubbed an approach to be interviewed about the controversial 2010 vote by Fifa's chief investigator.
Beckenbauer, 68 was on the executive committee that awarded the 2022 finals to Qatar. He claimed that Michael Garcia had "no power" to make him assist in the investigation.
Beckenbauer remains on Fifa's football committee.
Garcia ended his inquiry yesterday and will report his findings next month.
Jim Boyce, Fifa vice-president, said: "If anyone has refused to cooperate with this investigation, I would support them being named and sanctioned."
Another executive committee member branded Beckenbauer's refusal "pathetic" and said he should be "named and shamed".