Crisis? What crisis? FIFA posts $184 million profit

NASSAU: World soccer's governing body FIFA made a profit of $184 million in 2008 despite the global economic crisis but their accounts showed a huge dependency on the World Cup for revenue.

FIFA is budgeting for a loss in 2010 but only because the costs of the World Cup in South Africa next year are expected to be $560.4 million and much of the television rights cash has been received in previous years.

"We are in a sane, one could even say comfortable financial position," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said.