Legendary German footballer Franz Beckenbauer (Cl is flanked by Fifa President Joseph S Blatter and Fedor Radmann, n member on the German bidding team, after the Fifa executive committee designated as host of 2006 World Cup —AFP photo

ZURICH, July 6; Germany will stage the 2006 World Cup after a neck and neck vote with South Africa on Thursday as the Flfa executive committee Ignored its president's call to give It to an African nation for the first time, reports AP.

In the final round of voting at Flfa headquarters. Germany had 12 votes and South Africa 11 with one abstention.

England and Morocco were eliminated in the first two rounds.

The dramatic vote at the end of a four-year campaign by all the bidding countries came as the two leading candidates went into the third round tied at 1 l-1 I.

That meant that the two members who had voted for England in round two had to decide whether to go for South Africa or Germany, which last staged the World Cup as West Germany back in 1974 But New Zealand's Charles Dempsey decided to abstain. Blatter announced at a news conference.

If the New Zealander had voted for South Africa to make it 12-12. it would have gone to Blatter's casting vote and the Germans probably would have lost His decision to abstain was a shock for the South Africans

“He had promised us that, if England were eliminated before the final round ills vote would

come to South Africa." said Emmanuel Maradas. one of the South African bidding team

Instead, the decision also means that Europe gets the World Cup for the 10th time and Africa is still waiting for its first. Europe last had the World Cup in France two years ago

"Actually. I’m surprised." said Franz Beckenbauer, head of the German bid "I'm not pre-Eared for this because you can't e prepared for this. It was a very close result. We’d hoped for this but we couldn't expect it.

"We are very, very happy." said Beckenbauer adding that the bld had "a little luck."

Blatter didn't appear upset that his call for an African World Cup had not been heeded.

"The South Africans did great work." the Flfa president said. "May be II was not the right time yet to give Africa the World Cup. The executive committee Is big enough and has strong enough personalities Each knows which Is the right decision Io take.

The Germans, who said throughout they already had the Infrastructure and soccer tradition, get the 2006 championship at a time when their national team Is In disarray after first round elimination at Euro 2000 Yet Germany are threetime World Cup winners and also have wen the European ti-B tie three times

The South Africans earn-I paigned throughout that it was! Africa's turn and that it had al far better bid than Morocco.! which currently had only three’ ' stadiums that satisfied the FifaB requirements South Africa had I nine stadiums already built including the FNR in Johannes- -burg which is being increased to, 110.000.

The South African bld also | appeared to have the support of Blatter who has said publicly that the 2006 championship should go to Africa. Thursday s decision appears to be a major blow to the president's policy.

He had argued that thm World Cup should be hosted on a, rotating basis with each of the confederations taking it in turn. After Europe had France 199b and Asta will stage 2002. co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. Blatter argued that 1 Africa should gel 2006 withM max be South America in 2010. ■

The South Africans also did® a deal with Brazil, persuading® the South Americans to with-® draw their bid only three days® before the vote in return tor the® African delegates supporting® Brazils candidature in 2010/B They figured that guaranteed® them the votes of Brazil. Ar-fl gentina and Paraguax while the® Germans doubted that. H

As the campaign atmosphere®^ turned a little ugly. Beckeu-^H bauer described the deal asH "horse trading" while the Mo-S roccans suggested that Blatter®^ himself han been behind it B

England s cause was se\ereh®| damaged bx the violence of En^H gllsh hooligans in Hiu'-m'N andH Charleroi last month at the Euro 20(Xi ( hampionship

Their bidding team alsoBH were dismaxed to heai that the^B Flfa lns|x'ctton team rated iheuHH facilities behind those of Ger-HH many and South Africa evenBH though England ah eadx has fO.OOO capai itx "radiums nl-H readx in use with lom more, ui-fl chiding a new 60 000 sealer Wemblex stadium to be built whatever the result of the bid H

Morocco's case was that it^B had lost twice before and. i(B Africa weie to g< I it" lir"( WorldBH Cup if had a "tronger case th.m®| South Africa