Beckenbauer: 24 teams is too many

DW: The 2014 sporting year has so far been a very eventful one. Which moments were most surprising, which moments have impressed you?

Franz Beckenbauer: There are so many moments! But the most surprising of all was that the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DSOB) and the Geman Football Association (DFB) were able to find a solution. Concerning 2020 and 2024 - the DFB want the European Championships, Berlin and Hamburg will participate in the Olympic Games and they've said: 'No, we will apply at the same time: the DFB for the European Championship and the DOSB for the Olympic Games.'

You have quoted Nelson Mandela: "Sport has the power to change so much in the world. The politics are unavoidable." How difficult is this balancing act for football and olympic sport?

I don't know whether sport can change the world. I do believe that sport can improve certain parts of the world. The past has certainly shown that this is possible. The question is how far sport can still intervene when it really comes to the critical points. Sport eventually has its limits.

But it is possible to create improvements through sporting activities. I have experienced that myself with all of my countless visits to developing countries. If you give the people there a ball, then the nationality, skin color and religion is irrelevant. They play together, they laugh together and they even communicate in different languages.

In a lot of countries around the world, the IOC and FIFA have a poor reputation. Why is that?

Thomas Bach, the new president of the IOC, is trying to control this. He is trying to make the IOC more transparent as well as the awarding of the hosting of the Olympic Games. This also applies to FIFA with the hosting of the World Cup. Is it still appropriate to vote in the Executive Committee? In the future, it will be that all 209 associations in the FIFA Congress will be able to vote. It is similar in the IOC, where they are evaluating potential reforms. Apparently they are prepared for the future.

A question on UEFA: What do you think about 24 teams qualifying for the 2016 European Championships in France?

This is a decision for the UEFA Executive Committee, which you can not challenge. But you can of course express your opinion. 24 teams out of 54 associations? I think this is far too many. That's almost half of all UEFA members, so you might as well just let nearly everyone play. Then you can save on the qualification stage. I think 16 was the correct number. But these concessions are for those who have always knocked on the door of a major finals but never quite made it.

In four years, Russia will host the 2018 World Cup. Is the political situation and the problems between Russia and Ukraine a concern for you?

Of course, we have talked about Russia - and also about Qatar. FIFA is immediately concerned with the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Sepp Blatter has responded very sporadically. The current situation may change over the next two years.

Therefore, we shouldn't jump to conclusions now. Qatar will be examined in a committee inquiry. Surprisingly, an American is responsible for the investigation. In September, FIFA will submit its final report and then we will see.

Are the differences between you and FIFA ironed out?

I don't know if they are eliminated with FIFA. But they are with Sepp Blatter in any case. I would indeed have expected a different reaction, because I would have thought that one dealt differently with friends. But the anger was during the World Cup and Sepp Blatter had a lot to do. Still, I was disappointed because I was hoping that someone from his circle would come and talk to me. They didn't do that and that's why I was upset.

Franz Beckenbauer is one of Germany's most famous footballers. The 68-year-old won the 1974 World Cup as a player and the 1990 World Cup as a coach. These days he is honorary president of Bayern Munich. He was speaking with members of the press at Camp Beckenbauer, a summit in Austria focusing on the future of sports.