Franz Beckenbauer has hit out at Sepp Blatter over the FIFA president's claims that the World Cup 2006 bid process did not run smoothly, when the New Zealand representative decided not to vote.

However, Beckenbauer has claimed that Blatter has his facts wrong and that the German bid was supported by European nations, which is why the bid was won.

"I can not understand the statements and suggestions made by Sepp Blatter," Beckenbauer told Bild.

"He even got the result wrong. It was 12-11, not 10-9. The deciding factor was that the eight Europeans all voted in our favour."

Beckenbauer was head of the 2006 World Cup organising committee.