Helping South Africa

FIFA, soccer's world governing body, appointed the senior German soccer official to act as an advisor for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the German Soccer Federation (DFB) confirmed Friday.

Schmidt, 64, played a key role in the 2006 World Cup planning as senior vice-president of the German organizing committee.

"My goal is to use all my experience to make the 2010 World Cup a full success," said Schmidt, who still serves as the DFB's general secretary.

The month-long tournament in Germany concluded nearly without a hitch this summer as stadiums and public viewing areas filled and fears of hooliganism proved unfounded, leading FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi to describe the appointment as "a real win" for the world body.

"There is no one around the world who combines so much experience in the areas of organization, security or ticketing," he said.

Crisis manager or just lending a hand?

FIFA had confirmed last week they were interested in appointing Schmidt, but denied he was acting as a crisis manager amid reports of concerns about the local organizing committee's progress.

"I am looking forward to the task and to working together with the colleagues of the South African World Cup organizing committee and the FIFA office in Johannesburg," Schmidt said, adding that he plans to spend one week per month advising organizers in South Africa while continuing work at the DFB.

DFB president Theo Zwanziger said Schmidt had the federation's full support. After the success of the 2006 World Cup, the 2006 hosts were committed to helping FIFA and the South African organizers, and Schmidt was "just the right man" to help organize the first World Cup on the African continent.

Planning trip to South Africa

FIFA president Joseph Blatter said earlier this month he intended to visit South Africa soon to urge lawmakers to speed up building work.

Blatter said he wanted to meet South African President Thabo Mbeki and make an appeal to the country's parliament "to explain the value of the World Cup and to fire up the organizing committee, because it's the last moment to start building five stadiums."

He added that he hoped the work in South Africa would get underway before the end of the year.

Blatter did not comment on whether FIFA was creating contingency plans to host the 2010 tournament outside of South Africa if the country could not create an adequately infrastructure in time for the Cup. Both the United States and Australia have been reported to be potential hosts should organizers decide to change the venue.