FIFA officials on Thursday moved to shut down questions about the corruption scandal surrounding the international soccer body ahead of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
The head of the tournament's organizing committee, Jeffrey Webb, was reportedly one of seven senior FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland and charged with racketeering, fraud and money- laundering.
At a news conference in Auckland ahead of the New Zealand tournament's opening on Saturday, officials said they would only accept questions about the tournament itself.
The media asked about the arrests over several minutes, Radio New Zealand reported, but FIFA communications worker Monika Huser said repeatedly they could not be answered.
"Well, we can't actually talk about the recent events happening in Zurich. However, we appreciate that this is important for you," Huser said.
The man behind New Zealand's bid to host the FIFA Under 20 World Cup said the bid was clean.
Former chief executive of New Zealand Football Michael Glading, who presented New Zealand's bid to FIFA, told Radio New Zealand that he had never dealt with Jeffrey Webb and at no point did he have to put up any money into the bid.
Sports Minister Jonathan Coleman dismissed suggestions the New Zealand tournament might be tarred by the scandal.
"The focus of the local organizing committee is actually on the tournament delivery and obviously they've got a big job ahead of them," Radio New Zealand quoted Coleman as saying.
