Friday 5 June 2015 13:06, UK
The Canada Women’s World Cup 2015 kicks off on Saturday but organisers continue to face questions related to the ongoing corruption scandal surrounding FIFA.
Canada take on China in the opening match but during the pre-tournament press conference in Vancouver questions on the ongoing scandal dominated proceedings.
The country’s football chief Victor Montagliani was asked in French by a journalist if they had been involved in any impropriety during the bidding process for the tournament.
“Absolutely not,” Canada Soccer (CSA) boss Montagliani said. “We put our bid forward and quite frankly we were the only country in the end that bid.”
The CSA and FIFA had faced criticism for the decision to play on artificial turf during the early build-up, but when Zimbabwe pulled out of the running, Canada’s was the only bid left.
Over one million tickets have now been sold for the newly-expanded 24-team tournament and Montagliani was keen to try and draw a line under the current crisis.
"I actually think it's a positive thing that the first tournament after whatever happened last week is the Women's World Cup,” he said.
Representatives were then asked why FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Secretary General Jerome Valcke - who has been accused of authorising bribes for World Cup bidding votes - were not at the press conference.
“Of course the plan was for him (Valcke) to come but due to the late situation he had to stay in Zurich. This is understandable.” FIFA media relations manager Segolene Valentin said.
“And regarding the president, we will confirm in the due moment what his plan is because we still have some days before the end of the tournament and we can’t confirm anything now. It will be unfair and inaccurate to tell you now what will happen in 30 days.”
FIFA’s head of women’s football Tatjana Haenni was then asked if FIFA’s budget for hospitality was more than the players were getting.
“I can honestly not say that,” she replied. “We would have to look at the overall total budget, at the requirements, at what’s happening, what’s not happening and who is coming.
“There is a figure attached to it - that’s clear. There is a cost but we’ve never budgeted it in a way where we could say exactly what the hospitality for the executives is. It’s a tournament organisational budget.”
