Beckenbauer: „2010 will mean so much for Africa’s pride“

He won the World Cup twice, on the field and as Germany’s coach. He led the Organising Committee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. And he still presides over the supervisory board of the Bundesliga’s flagship club, FC Bayern München. Franz Beckenbauer has seen it all, but still, the 61-year old Bavarian will open yet another chapter of his amazing football career, as he joins the FIFA Executive Committee this week. Following Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, who recently left the Committee, Beckenbauer will be the only German among the 24 members of the group that governs world football. On Wednesday and Thursday, Beckenbauer will be officially introduced as a new member.

In the latest “Talk of the Week” on www.dfb.de, Beckenbauer answered the questions of DFB editor Wolfgang Tobien about his role as a European and German representative in the Executive Committee, discusses Germany’s chances to host the 2011 Women’s World Cup and talks about his personal support for African football.

Question: Your official introduction as a new member of FIFA’s Executive Committee is scheduled for this week’s congress in Zurich. Do you see this as another highlight in your career?

Franz Beckenbauer: Absolutely, I regard this as a tremendous honour and a huge responsibility. The Committee is the highest governing body in world football. But I don’t come as a novice. I have worked closely witht the committee for a decade. Most members are my good friends, they are like family.”

Question: What will be your philosophy or your guideline?

Franz Beckenbauer: It is my firm conviction that rules need to be obeyed if you look for progress and results. Especially the 2006 FIFA World Cup showed football’s power as an integrative social force. What a great and peaceful atmosphere we had here in Germany, due to everybody sticking to the general rules. In modern day society, football plays a key role, as the game brings together people from all walks of life. The values of football, such as team work, fair play, solidarity and playing according to certain rules, are of significance for our day-to-day life.

Question: The DFB had promoted your membership, while you enter the committee as representative of UEFA. What weighs more – the interests of European or German football?

Franz Beckenbauer: Neither. I feel bound to the interests of football, not the particular interests of a specific association. I work for the good of football. Everybody should follow this agenda. Obviously, I’ll support UEFA and certain German issues in times of debate, if I deem them justified. But overall, football is my main concern.

Question: The DFB rests its hopes on your powers of persuasion, convincing the Executive Committee to award the 2011 Women’s World Cup to Germany. How do you rate the German chances?

Franz Beckenbauer: The DFB bid has a good chance to succeed, but then France poses a stiff challenge. I’m not sure whether both sides can come up with a compromise to avoid a rift within the European fraction. On November 23 in Durban (South Africa), the Executive Committee will anounce the final verdict.

Question: The 2006 FIFA World Cup received high praise. Doesn’t that help the bid for 2011?

Franz Beckenbauer: The DFB just needs to open a drawer and forward the 2006 documents. We’ll be able to present top-notch stadiums and a perfect infrastructure. Then again, FIFA has granted hosting rights to countries to support developments there, just think off Japan and Korea in 2002 and the USA in 1994. To collect the entire European vote for the DFB candidature will be almost impossible. It will be much harder than for the 2006 bid, when Egidius Braun and Lennart Johansson succeeded to unify the European vote.

Question: Where do you see the biggest challenge for world football?

Franz Beckenbauer: World football is in good shape, the structures are sound. The professional leagues, the teams, the many FIFA tournaments – all of these facets of football are operating efficiently. I think we’re better off than ever before. It’s vital that we continue to invest any profits into the disadvantaged countries. And we have to keep a close eye on racism and violence. In some countries and for certain leagues, racism and violence could become a real danger. We need to cooperate with the world of politics to attack this problem. We need the police – you can’t expect football to bear the burden without any support from the state. I believe it makes sense to take a hard stance.

Question: How is your relationship to UEFA President Michel Platini?

Franz Beckenbauer: I have known Michel as a player. I really appreciated his contributions during our bidding phase for the 2006 torunament. Back then, I visited him in Paris a few times, just to hear about his experiences from the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He was very hospitable and sincere. As for my personal relationship, it couldn’t be better.

Question: Joseph S. Blatter and Michel Platini share a rather critical view of the G14, the alliance of Europe’s major football clubs. How is your position, also in your role as the chairman of Bayern München’s supervisory board?

Franz Beckenbauer: Communication is important. Since the G14 has been founded, it makes sense to recognize them. Of course, the G14 cannot be an antipole to FIFA or UEFA. But why shouldn’t the G14 have an influence on the major panels. As the major clubs send off their best players to the national teams, they contribute to the wealth of FIFA and UEFA. In my view, we should integrate the G14, not ignore them.

Question: What will be your specific tasks in the Executive Committee?

Franz Beckenbauer: This will be an item of the talks my personal agenda during the congress this week in Zurich.

Question: Which FIFA committees would interest you the most?

Franz Beckenbauer: I talked with the FIFA President a few days ago. Sepp Blatter indicated that I will play a strong role in FIFA’s football committee, which would be right up my street. Internationally, I am all forsupporting FIFA’s poorest member associations. I would like to help in any way I can, especially in Africa.

Question: This continent and African football seem to have your sympathies?

Franz Beckenbauer: That is true. During my extensive travels, I found out where the poorest of the poor live. It is in Africa. Football is such a huge social factor there, it helps in raising and educating the young. There are so many rifts and divisions, but football brings people together. Those playing football cannot make war.

Question: The 2010 FIFA World Cup needs to be a success, especially the organisation. Do you agree?

Franz Beckenbauer: Absolutely. Everybody should help to turn 2010 into a rousing success. It will be the World Cup hosted by the entire continent, not just South Africa. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will mean so much for Africa’s pride.

Question: You know better than anybody how much work the organisation of the World Cup entails. Is South Africa ready for the challenge?

Franz Beckenbauer: I am 100 per cent sure that they’ll rise to the occasion. The have FIFA in their corner. And they have assembled an outstanding Organising Committee, which started work ten years ago. FIFA made a brilliant move to ask DFB General Secretary Horst R. Schmidt to consult the South African LOC. Schmidt has organised World Cups for 30 years. For 2006, Horst R. Schmidt almost single-handedly managed the operational tasks. You won’t find anybody more knowledgeable than him.