Outgoing FIFA President Sepp Blatter told the BBC he is "clean" and "there is no corruption in football" amid criminal investigations at world football's governing body, according to Richard Conway of the BBC. Blatter, president since '98, will step down in February. He was elected for a fifth term in May "but then stood down." He said, "I did it because I wanted to protect FIFA. I can protect myself. I am strong enough. I know what I have done, what I have not done, I have my conscience and I know I'm an honest man. I am clean. I am not a worried man." Two criminal investigations into corruption at FIFA are continuing. But Blatter said, "The institution is not corrupt, there is no corruption in football, there is corruption with individuals. It is the people." In an exclusive interview, Blatter also said:
- He was not "morally responsible" for the likes of former FIFA exec Chuck Blazer, "who admitted he accepted bribes in connection with South Africa as 2010 World Cup hosts."
- The 2010 World Cup was "the cleanest World Cup that has ever been done."
- FIFA was the "suffering party" but it would emerge positively after the "tsunami" of allegations that had hit it (BBC, 8/24).
