FIFA president Sepp Blatter revealed on Wednesday at the 33rd Assembly of the Confederation of African Football held in Khartoum, Sudan, that the world’s football governing body netted $1.2 billion from the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, doubling the spoils from Germany 2006, AP said.
“There was better news from 2010 as FIFA had realised $1.2 billion after the World Cup in South Africa compared to $600 million realised after Germany 2006 World Cup,” Blatter said.
He let slip the number as a little teaser for FIFA’s annual report, to be released next week, and bragged that the pile of cash would tide them over for 18 months.
“The Federations and associations will benefit from this windfall, this again is victory for Africa,” Blatter added.
“This financial success is perhaps not the most important. The World Cup has restored pride to a whole continent sometimes abused, heckled and even vilified.
Everybody is happy about this great success that has sent another message from Africa to the world. It is the victory of South Africa; it is the victory of Africa. Henceforth, Africa will be seen in a new image,” he concluded. (Goal.com)