Allegations that former Oceania Football Confederation head, New Zealand's Charlie Dempsey was bribed to not vote for the 2006 World Cup hosting rights have been rejected by the organisation.
In a book The Dirty Game: Uncovering the Scandal at FIFA, investigative journalist Andrew Jennings alleged that in 2000 Dempsey was paid $398,000 not to vote for South Africa, thereby awarding the tournament to Germany.
Dempsey said at the time he did not vote because of the "intolerable pressure" from supporters of the German and South African bids and that attempts were made to bribe him.
The late Charlie Dempsey said he came under "intolerable pressure" during the vote for the 2006 World Cup. Photo: Photosport
In a statement the Oceania Football Confederation general secretary Tai Nicholas maintained the allegations were unfounded.
"I would challenge the author of the allegations to provide any refutable evidence to the contrary. Having been involved in the meetings to decide OFC's voting preference at that time, I know that Charlie followed the mandate set out for him by the OFC Executive Committee," Nicholas said.
"Charlie was a wealthy businessman in his own right, having arrived in New Zealand from Glasgow in 1952 he went on to establish a successful building business," he said.
General secretary of the Oceania Football Confederation Tai Nicholas. Photo: Photosport
"It seems absurd that he would take a bribe as the reports have indicated as he did not need the money. It is also disappointing that such an allegation has come seven years after Charlie passed away, as he is unable to defend himself."
Dempsey, who had voted for England in the first two rounds but was under instruction from the Oceania Confederation to back the South African bid once England were eliminated from contention, instead abstained.
That left the vote 12-11 in favour of Germany.
Had the vote been tied, FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who had previously expressed his desire for South Africa to host the tournament, would have held the deciding vote.