By Andrew Warshaw
March 25 – When politicians, famous sportsmen and other public figures retire to proverbially spend more time with the family, there are often suspicions of some hidden agenda.
But Franz Beckenbauer says his decision to quit football after half-a-century as one of the most decorated figures ever to grace the game should not be construed as anything but a genuine desire to see more of his two young sons.
Until recently, the man known throughout his illustrious career as “Der Kaiser” had been touted by many as the natural successor to Sepp Blatter to lead football’s world governing body.
How ironic, then, that on the very day Blatter stands for re-election for a fourth term as FIFA President on June 1, Beckenbauer will be bidding an emotional farewell to his colleagues on the organisation’s Executive Committee to take up a life of dedicated father, low-handicap golfer and keen mountain walker.
“The truth is I never gave serious thought about the FIFA Presidency,” reveals Beckenbauer in an interview with insideworldfootball during a break in proceedings at this week’s UEFA Congress in Paris, where he was presented with a special award by UEFA President Michel Platini.
“It’s a fulltime job.
“I could actually have become UEFA President after the 2006 World Cup.
“Lennart Johansson wanted me to succeed him, to close the circle if you like after coming up through the ranks and achieving so much as player and manager.
“But again I said no.
“I’d have had to move the family and I couldn’t do it.”
Beckenbauer insists there is no truth in rumours that he is resigning from FIFA in disgust at the way the double World Cup ballot for 2018 and 2022, marred by allegations of collusion, was conducted.
He does admit, however, that the whole process of a secret ballot, with power resting with FIFA’s 24 Executive Committee elite – 22 in this case after the much-publicised suspensions of two members – should become more transparent.
“Perhaps it would be fairer and more democratic for the whole FIFA family, all 208 members, to be involved in the decision for future World Cup hosts,” he says.
But from this summer, Beckenbauer, the first person to both captain and coach a World Cup-winning country, will no longer be part of that elite, his position on the Executive Committee taken by compatriot Theo Zwanziger, head of the German FA.
Beckenbauer understandably is taking a keen interest in the forthcoming FIFA Presidential election and wants it to be a fair fight between Blatter and underdog Mohamed Bin Hammam.
Last week he told a German newspaper he was worried about FIFA being split into two separate camps and admits he is concerned about the process being tarnished by the same dirty tricks allegations that marred the 1998 and 2002 campaigns when Johansson and Issa Hayatou, respectively, were well beaten by Blatter.
“In Seoul in 2002 it was a total disaster, the atmosphere was terrible,” recalled Beckenbauer.
“It wasn’t good for football.
“I hope this will be conducted fairly.
“Mohamed has a lot of experience but Sepp IS FIFA.
“He unlocks in the morning and locks up at night, metaphorically speaking.”
Bin Hammam wants to restrict the OPresidency to two terms and Blatter is bidding for his fourth.
But Beckenbauer recalled the 24-year regime of Blatter’s predecessor, Joao Havelange, who carried on until he was 82.
“There are questions about how long Sepp can go on and people say four terms is too much,” he said.
“But I’m not sure about that provided Sepp is mentally and physically fit.
“Look at Havelange.
“He was a great president.”
Beckenbauer predicted a tough ride for 61-year-old Bin Hammam, head of the Asian Football Confederation.
“Mohamed is 15 years younger and is seizing his chance but it’s very difficult to compete against Sepp.
“He’s been at FIFA since 1975.
“Both Johansson and Hayatou had also been a long time in football.”
Naturally, for someone who has been involved in the game almost all his life – whether as player, manager, World Cup organiser or FIFA administrator – Beckenbauer, 65, will maintain a keen interest.
He hopes, somewhat controversially, that goalline technology never sees the light of day.
“I’m in favour of the two additional referees and that is the consensus inside the Football Committees of both FIFA and UEFA,” he says.
“Goalline technology only covers whether the ball has crossed the line.
“Would that have helped in, say, the Thierry Henry handball incident?
“No, but that would have been spotted by the extra official.
“And would it be 100 per cent accurate?
“I’m not so sure.”
He chuckles when it is suggested he only holds that view because of Frank Lampard’s goal-that-wasn’t against Germany in last summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.
“Ah, but don’t forget 1966,” he said.
“People are still talking about that!”
He still looks as fit as a fiddle, with the charm to go with it, and says he eventually intends to get back on the golf course – he used to play off a seven handicap.
He will miss the inner sanctum of FIFA – “the Government of football” as he puts it – but remains resolute that he will not be back.
“I still have my football television work in Germany and, of course, my Franz Beckenbauer Foundation for handicapped people which I can do much more with now,” he said.
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