FIFA faces allegations of corruption over 2022 Qatar World Cup
Fresh allegations of corruption have been made against FIFA in relation to their controversial decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Millions of emails and documents leaked to the Sunday Times allegedly reveal that Qatari football official Mohammed Bin Hammam, who was banned in 2011 from all involvement in world football following allegations of bribery, made payments to the presidents of numerous African football associations using money from private slush funds to buy votes in Qatar’s favour.
The documents also show Bin Hammam using his own money to subsidise the legal costs of Reynald Temarii, former president of the Oceania Football Confederation, after his suspension following accusations of bribery.
As a result, Mr Temarii’s deputy, who potentially would have voted against Qatar’s bid, was prevented from doing so.
According to the Sunday Times the documents expose Bin Hammam’s campaign to “create a groundswell of support for Qatar’s plan to take world football by storm”.
In response to these allegations, chairman of the Commons Cultural Committee John Whittingdale commented: “There is now an overwhelming case that the decision as to where the World Cup should be held in 2022 should be run again.”
The accusations of corruption against the Qatari bid are the latest in a long list of issues that have thrust doubt into the minds of football fans and officials the world over.
Last month, FIFA president Sepp Blatter himself admitted that it was a “mistake” to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Eoin O’Sullivan-Harris
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