Football: Blatter apologises for World Cup fiasco

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has apologised to South Africans for the fiasco that surrounded their unsuccessful bid to host the 2006 Soccer World Cup.

South Africa’s attempt to become the first African nation to host the soccer showpiece failed last year when Oceania delegate Charles Dempsey abstained from voting - giving the event to Germany by a 12-11 margin - even though he had been instructed to support South Africa after England’s bid failed.