Qatar 2022 World Cup under threat as new report finds that the country’s awarding to host the tournament was “completely illegitimate” – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

Qatar 2022 World Cup under threat as new report finds that the country’s awarding to host the tournament was “completely illegitimate”




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The 2018 FIFA World Cup will get underway in two weeks time, but football’s showpiece event could be overshadowed by allegations of corruption in regards to the tournament being held in 2022.

In an ongoing serious of investigations, the sport’s World governing body could find themselves answering further questions about corruption over hosting the event in Qatar.

The latest round accusations to hit FIFA could be potentially damaging, after a report by the Foundation for Sports Integrity found that Qatar’s awarding of the 2022 hosting rights was “completely illegitimate”.

According to The Sun newspaper, the foundation which purposely reviews cases of any suspected wrong doing, apparently uncovered a number of suspicious payments to leading figures within the game before the middle eastern country was awarded the tournament in 2010.

The paper states that the foundation found a number of key figures including Argentine FIFA executive Julio Grondona received unaccounted payments before the decisive vote.

It is alleged that Mr Grondina recieved a payment of £3.6 million which has not yet been explained before the vote amongst FIFA delegates.

The foundation also reportedly discovered that a £1.1bn deal between Qatar Airways and French firm Airbus Industries was concluded following talks between the Emir of Qatar, the then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy and former UEFA president Michael Platini in the weeks leading up to the vote.

It is also alleged that Thailand’s FA president Worawi Makudi was involved in a multi-million pound deal that saw Qatar supply two million tons of liquefield natural gas to the country.

Although all parties involved in the Vote have repeatedly denied claims of bribery and corruption, the latest findings will most likely put the sporting body under the spotlight once again.

It will also lead to further questions whether or not the then considered ninth best candidate to host the tournament will be stripped of hosting the showpiece event in four years time.

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