Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, 80, has remarkably claimed that he has witnessed fixing of a draw for a European football competition but stated that no draw at world level was rigged..
In an interview with La Nacion, an Argentine newspaper, Blatter said: “I never touched the balls, something that others did. Of course it’s possible that they can be signaled, by heating or cooling them.
“It doesn’t happen in FIFA, but I’ve witnessed draws at European level where it has happened, but never in FIFA. Of course it can be done, but it never happened under my watch, never.”
Blatter carried on to explain how the fixing of the draw was proceeded and said: “Balls are put in the freezer before the draw, at the slightest touch you can tell if the balls are hot or cold.”
“By touching them you know exactly what you have.”
In response to Blatter’s comments, however, UEFA told Sky Sports, “Allegations that UEFA has in the past fixed draws for its competitions are completely absurd and therefore not worth a reaction.”
Blatter is is currently appealing a six-year ban from all football-related activity imposed by FIFA and is also being investigated for alleged corruption during his tenure as FIFA president.
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