Sepp Blatter has claimed he witnessed a European football tournament being rigged during his tenure as Fifa president.

According to the 80-year old former football head, balls containing the names of sides selected in the draw were either heated or cooled thereby enabling those picking them to identify which ball was which, reports La Nacion.

Blatter refused to specify in which tournament the rigging took place but did identity the nationality of the team that benefited.

‘It was an Italian team,’ he said.

‘I saw it with my own eyes and it was like cheating. It was for a European competition. Only one team has managed that. It was an Italian side.

‘You can see the balls that are drawn identified either by making them hot, or if they have been cooled. I was a witness.’

Blatter denied he was ever directly involved with cheating.

‘I’ve never drawn lots,’ he said.

‘Other presidents did. They have taken the balls themselves from the pot. I was clean to the last,’ he insisted.

Blatter was forced out of Fifa in October amid widespread allegations of corruption, though the Swiss has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Photo: Fifa website