Today, a damning leaked e-mail asserted that Qatar had indeed purchased the right to host the 2022 World Cup.
An e-mail leaked by banned FIFA vice-president Jack Warner suggested that a deal was struck by Mohamed Bin Hammam for the Gulf nation to secure the tournament.
This revelation is likely to renew demands for the 2022 vote to be revisited in light of the new corruption allegations.
Longstanding inquiries have focused on how a relatively small country, where temperatures can reach 50C, managed to win the tournament hosting rights.
Yesterday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter was cleared of bribery charges during the suspension of Warner and Bin Hammam.
The e-mail, confirmed as authentic by FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, was sent to Warner.
Warner’s statement revealed that Valcke had emailed him regarding how Bin Hammam was ‘buying’ the World Cup for Qatar.
At that time, Bin Hammam was competing against Sepp Blatter for the presidency.
Warner recounted that the email included: ‘For MBH, I never understood why he was running.’
‘If he truly believed he had a chance or was merely expressing his strong dislike for JSB. Or if he thought FIFA could be purchased like they bought the WC.’
Speaking in Zurich today, Valcke confirmed he sent the message.
‘It was a private email we will discuss. He requested me to ask Bin Hammam to withdraw,’ Valcke stated.
He also claimed Warner had only shared parts of the email and rejected their assertions that he had influenced the ethics committee against them.
‘The first time I encountered the chairman of the ethics committee was yesterday at 5 o’clock before the press conference. I had no prior communication with anyone,’ he added.
Critics argue that yesterday’s decision to clear Sepp Blatter could be perceived as a ‘stitch-up’ in an organization plagued by corruption.
Sepp Blatter, 75, has faced accusations of ignoring senior officials who offered incentives to Caribbean delegates, yet he has been exonerated.
With the suspension of Qatari official Mohamed Bin Hammam, 62, Blatter’s exoneration paves the way for his unopposed re-election to a fourth term on Wednesday, amidst FIFA’s most severe corruption crisis ever.
FIFA’s ethics committee initiated an investigation last week after both Bin Hammam and Warner were alleged to have offered $50,000 in cash to Caribbean officials contingent on their votes for Bin Hammam in the presidential race.
In response, Bin Hammam asserted that Blatter was aware of the bribery allegations but failed to bring them to the ethics committee’s attention.
However, Petrus Damaseb, the committee’s deputy chairman, commented on the allegations against Blatter: ‘The committee believed the obligation to report was not applicable as no wrongdoing had taken place at that moment.’
Meeting at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, the committee expressed satisfaction that a case for investigation was warranted.Mr. Bin Hammam and Mr. Warner are to respond, though it was emphasized that they are considered innocent until proven guilty. If they are found guilty, expulsion from Fifa and a ban from all football activities could ensue.
According to The Times, Chuck Blazer, the secretary-general of Concacaf, stated that ‘much more evidence’ would come to light and accused the suspended pair of attempting to bribe voters from the very start.
Prior to the decision yesterday, Mr. Bin Hammam had declared his withdrawal from the presidential race.
On a day filled with dramatic events, there were calls for a new vote regarding the host of the 2022 World Cup, as Mr. Bin Hammam played a crucial role in securing the tournament for the nation.
The ethics committee also suspended two other officials from the Caribbean. Last night, Mark Palios, the former head of the Football Association, remarked: ‘Regardless of the outcome, I believe the image problem persists. It might appear to be some sort of stitch-up.
‘He ought to prioritize change in the agenda, and if he truly is committed to zero tolerance, then in an accountable organization, he would step down in light of these events.’
‘While I am speculating, based on previous actions, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue and possibly try to position himself as the one who rectified Fifa.’
John Whittingdale, the Tory chairman of the Commons culture, media, and sport committee, commented: ‘The situation has nearly reached the level of farce. Fifa now appears deeply corrupt—with one candidate suspended and the other moving towards a coronation as if nothing has transpired.
‘It is not possible to proceed like this any longer. European nations need to unite to convey that this situation cannot persist.’
Mr. Blatter is set to be re-elected unopposed on Wednesday unless three-quarters of the 208 voters oppose him.
In the meantime, Fifa’s secretary-general Jerome Valcke stated that a report commissioned by the Football Association regarding allegations made by former FA chairman Lord Triesman against four Fifa members, including Mr. Warner, had revealed no substantial evidence to support those claims.
Although Lord Triesman alleged that the four requested money or favors to endorse England’s 2018 World Cup bid, Mr. Valcke asserted: ‘They are completely clean.’
Today, an Australian senator has called on the federal government to demand a refund of the $46 million allocated for their unsuccessful bid to host the 2022 tournament.
He alleged that corruption within football’s governing body prevented the bid from succeeding.
by Terence Johns
