Blatter gives his backing to high-earning referees

The FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, wants to see professional referees, on salaries of 100,000 euros [£69,000] a year, to help prevent corruption scandals like the one affecting Germany.

"That would be the solution," Blatter said. "I've been saying that for 10 years. Then it becomes an occupation, and when you go to your workplace you don't cheat anyone."

German football has been rocked by the corruption scandal centred on the lower division referee Robert Hoyzer, who has admitted accepting money from gamblers to fix games.

Blatter said there was enough money in the game to pay salaries to referees in the major leagues in Europe and South America. "It would depend on the league, but I think the salary could be something in the region of 100,000 euros a year," he said.