Beckenbauer issues 2010 warning

"The organisation for the World Cup in South Africa is beset by big problems," the German legend claimed.

"But these are not South African problems - these are African problems.

"People are working against rather than with each other," said the Kaiser, chairman of the 2006 World Cup organising committee.

But Beckenbauer ruled out the possibility of Germany taking over the 2010 tournament if the mounting problems proved too much for South Africa.

"There are emergency solutions, but Germany is not one of them, there are enough other solutions," added the 61-year-old in comments likely to infuriate many South Africans.

Beckenbauer's claims come just days after Fifa president announced that he would travel to South Africa to urge lawmakers to speed up building work.

Blatter said he would meet President Thabo Mbeki and "explain the value of the World Cup" to the country's parliament.

The Fifa chief also advised South Africans not to take up offers of help from British, French, German, or other experts involved in organising previous World Cups.

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