Hero's welcome for Kiwi who handed World Cup to Germany

The New Zealander who delivered the soccer World Cup to Germany - and provoked an international row - is being treated like "a hero" in Europe.

Charlie Dempsey's crucial non-vote in 2000 handed the multimillion-dollar tournament to the Germans rather than South Africa in a controversy that rocked the sport.

Six years on, the 84-year-old is an honorary life member of football's governing body, Fifa. That status means he is enjoying VIP treatment at the month-long competition.

"This is my 10th World Cup and this would be the best I've ever been to," Mr Dempsey told the Weekend Herald from his Berlin hotel.

"I always think, 'Here I am, a Glasgow boy, watching the world's top football from the best seat'."

Scottish-born Mr Dempsey, who has lived in NZ since the 1950s, was president of the Oceania Football Confederation in 2000. The federation instructed him to back South Africa's bid for this year's World Cup, but Mr Dempsey abstained from the vote, giving Germany the event.

He quickly became public enemy number one in South Africa. At home, then Sports Minister Trevor Mallard said the whole country was "shocked and embarrassed by his failure to discharge his duties". And Prime Minister Helen Clark said she was "extremely disappointed" with him.

Within a few days Mr Dempsey resigned from his post.

"I never thought the World Cup was so important to so many people," he said.

The fallout from the decision helped to lift the lid on the voting process and caused even more soul-searching within Fifa and criticism from outside.

Mr Dempsey's integrity was questioned, there were rumours of bribes or "rewards" for votes, and allegations that Mr Dempsey's life, and his family's lives, had been threatened.

Mr Dempsey said this week that he had never regretted his decision.

"It was a trying time for the family, but I did not lose any sleep. I did not like it, but I always knew the decision was the correct one for football."

Unsurprisingly, Mr Dempsey, who is at the cup with wife Annie, is hugely popular in Germany - "The German people all want their photograph taken with me" - but he has also found South Africa has forgiven him.

"The most interesting thing was meeting the South African Minister of Sport [Makhenkesi Stofile]. He was pleased how everything turned out.

"They could not have done it this time. By 2010 [when South Africa will host the cup] they will be ready. I'm a hero in South Africa now."

The Aucklander, who was head of the New Zealand Football Association when the All Whites played in the World Cup finals in Spain in 1982, is now enjoying the trappings of his life-member status.

The perks include first-class flights to Germany, top hotels, the best seats for every game he attends and tickets to share with family and friends.

"It's the best hotel I've ever stayed in and we had beds on the plane over here," he said. "I did a lot over the years for Fifa and they made me an honorary life member."

Mr Dempsey has been to 15 games so far. "It's a great World Cup and the atmosphere is tremendous."

As for the team he would like to see win: "I must support England, but I don't think they are good enough."

He plans to watch the final on TV at home in NZ. "It's too chaotic to get out of the place once it's over. In Mexico in 1986 I was stuck at the airport, so I've not stayed for a final since."

Mr Dempsey also revealed he had played a pivotal role in securing the 2010 hosting rights for South Africa. "Danny Jordaan [chief of the 2010 organising committee] and the South African High Commissioner [Anthony Mongalo in Canberra] asked for my support for 2010 and they got it."

And he fully intends to be there in four years time for his 11th World Cup. "I said to Sepp [Blatter, Fifa president], 'I will see you in 2010', and then said, 'I'll be watching from up above'. But actually I think they will have to shoot me to get rid of me."


Charlie's cup runneth over
(values are estimates)

* Two first-class return flights, NZ to Germany: $40,000

* Five-star hotel: $800-plus a night.

* VIP seats at any game: $200-$1200 each.

* 116 tickets for family & friends: Priceless.