FIFA, Qatar 2022 and anything you can believe

FIFA, Qatar 2022 and some of the entrails
The official FIFA report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has cleared the respective successful bidders, Russia and Qatar, of any wrongdoing, but says Australia's failed bid to host the 2022 World Cup attempted to gain the favour of officials in ways that were "potentially problematic".  It states that Australia's bid including attempting to win favour with certain members of the FIFA executive committee. FIFA claims the full report can never be made public due to legal reasons.

"Certain devices employed by the bid team and its consultants were seemingly aimed at hiding ties with individuals close to the executive committee member concerned while taking advantage of their influence over the member to further the bid strategy," the report read. "According to the report, there have been several different occurrences involving the Australia 2022 bid that displayed potentially problematic connections between financial and other support for 'football development' and the bidding process."


"There are indications that the Australian 2022 bid team attempted to direct funds the Australian government had set aside for existing development projects in Africa towards initiatives in countries with ties to FIFA executive committee members with the intention to advance its bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup," the report said.

FIFA's report into World Cup corruption is now pointless and a joke, according to English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke. The report criticised The English FA for flouting bid rules.

In the meantime, Michael Brown, CEO of AFC 2015, has extended a hand towards supporting Qatar's preparations for 2022.

Eric Winton

Director, New Millennium Business

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