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Fifa's Sepp Blatter is victim of conspiracy, says daughter

The daughter of Fifa president Sepp Blatter has claimed her father is a victim of a conspiracy from "behind the scenes".

Blatter - who won a fifth term on Friday - has been under intense pressure to step down since senior Fifa officials were arrested on a string of corruption charges last week.

Meanwhile, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has told ITV News "there would be no point" in the Football Association boycotting the World Cup unless a large number of countries considered taking the same step.

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German FA chief labels Fifa's Ireland payment 'a joke'

Fifa's payment to Ireland over Thierry Henry's hand-ball has been condemned as "a joke" by the head of German football.

Wolfgang Niersbach is not impressed. Credit: PA

Wolfgang Niersbach, the president of the German football federation and a Fifa executive committee member, spoke out after the world governing body admitted paying the Football Association of Ireland 5million euros as compensation for the infamous Thierry hand-ball in a World Cup play-off.

The Fifa payment, initially a loan, was agreed in return for the FAI not taking the case to court. Had Ireland qualified for the 2014 finals they would have had to pay the money back.

Niersbach told German television station ZDF: "It is a joke that they paid this money out to stop the Irish taking them in front of court."

France beat Ireland in the 2009 play-off 2-1 on aggregate - with France's extra-time decider in the second leg owing much to an Henry hand-ball in the build-up - which led to the FAI threatening legal action after missing out on the 2010 World Cup.

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Fifa's Sepp Blatter is victim of conspiracy, says daughter

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