Blatter hits back at Beckenbauer

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit back at Franz Beckenbauer’s claim that players are too tired for the World Cup, labelling the German legend a "tycoon in football".

The World Cup-winning captain and coach yesterday stated player burn-out was devaluing the tournament.

But Blatter said: "I will not comment on such remarks made by tycoons in football like Franz Beckenbauer, who is also the chairman of the organising committee of the next World Cup.

"The dates of this World Cup in Asia were known for more than two years.

"If the national associations attach importance to the World Cup then they shall take the elementary precautions to present their team fit and in good condition.

"‘They cannot blame FIFA for staging a World Cup every four years."

Beckenbauer had stated that too many games was the reason for many of the top stars failing to perform in Japan and Korea.

The Bayern Munich president said: "FIFA have to react because this situation hits the World Cup and what do people see? Tired stars. It’s not the future, it’s impossible.

"There have been a lot of surprises and my pre-tournament favourites France and Argentina now have to watch the rest of the games on television.

"France didn’t even score a goal and you could see with one of my favourite players, Patrick Vieira, he was tired. How many games did he play in the last season, 60 or 80?

"It’s impossible to be fresh when you have 38 league games, different cup games and you are in the national team. You could see they were very tired."