By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

We have decided to take the lead in the organisation in South Africa Fifa president Sepp Blatter

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has declared his organisation will play a greater role in the organisation of the first World Cup finals to be hosted by an African nation.

"Fifa cannot take the risk to let down those responsible for the organisation [of the 2010 World Cup] in South Africa," he told BBC Sport.

"We have to ensure the responsibility of the organisation. If something goes wrong who do you think will be blamed?"

Blatter said Fifa's decision to play a proactive role in the organisation of the 2010 finals was to avoid the problems faced during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Fifa aids South Africa

He admitted that the two nations, who co-hosted the first World Cup in Asia, should have faced greater Fifa scrutiny.

"I wouldn't say we gave them (Korea and Japan) too much freedom but they were given the chance to do what they wanted, which made the organisation of the competition difficult.

"It was difficult to organise what was practically two World Cups in two different countries.

"But with the experience from 2002 and what we will learn from 2006 in Germany, we have decided to take the lead in the organisation in South Africa."

However, Blatter insisted that Match AG, the Fifa company set up for the 2010 World Cup, is not being imposed on South Africa.

"South Africa asked for help, so we do not need to impose it.

"The Fifa office is not just there to monitor the work.