Blatter denies Qatar bought 2022 World Cup and points to Sarkozy influence

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has insisted the 2022 World Cup vote was not fixed, saying: "You cannot buy a World Cup."
Blatter this week returned to FIFA's headquarters as his appeal against an eight-year ban from football was heard, and the 79-year-old continues to plead his innocence on several fronts amid numerous allegations of corruption.
Blatter was banned for eight years alongside then UEFA president Michel Platini over an alleged 'disloyal payment' between the two, but it was the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar which arguably sparked the crisis which has rocked FIFA.
Qatar has denied buying votes in the run up to 2010 decision, in which it surprisingly beat the United States, and Blatter said Qatar prevailed not because of corruption but because of political pressure.

In an interview with the Times, Blatter claimed the then French president Nicolas Sarkozy told Platini to change his vote - something Platini has denied.
Blatter said: "You cannot buy a World Cup, it will go at the end where the higher political influences are. For World Cup 2022, Platini at least had the courtesy to phone me and say, 'now we have had a meeting with the head of state and if...