FIFA has cleared Australia’s 2022 World Cup bid of wrongdoing, rejecting claims that illegal gifts were provided. The world football body says it reviewed the allegations but decided there were “no grounds to open a formal case.”
FIFA said on Thursday that it now considered the matter closed, even though it reminded Australia’s football federation about bidding rules.
FIFA started investigating last month after The Age newspaper reported some FIFA executive members were given jewelry and offered travel expenses.
The Australian federation said the pearl cufflinks and necklaces were presented at a private dinner after the FIFA Congress in Sydney in May 2008 – eight months before official campaigning began.
whiskeymac
Guest
=)
MVDave
Guest
Lets Play 2022!... 2nd December 2010 will be as nerve wracking as the penalty shoot out vs Uruguay in November 2005!
Harvey the Scouser
Roar Guru
thank goodness FIFA has an Ethics Committee
Mr
Guest
No surprise that FIFA, the Federal Government and the auditers have cleared the FFA Bid Team. Onward to December 2!
mahony
Guest
(1) Pearls for FIFA Executive Committee members and wives paid for by FFA 12 months before FFA bid was launched. (2) Expert consultants’ fees paid by taxpayer’s funds, just as Lowy said in Parliament House on the night the bid was launched. (3) All conditions of funding agreement with Commonwealth met. (4) Taxpayers funding used to 'lobby' Warner - spent on costs for promoting the development of football in a 3rd world nation. (5) Increased Aid funding linked to national bid for UNSC seat - not World Cup bid. Football related 'aid' funded under existing program along with AFL and Rugby Union and Cricket. (6) Appointment of 'special consuls' never progressed past FFA proposal (regardless of merit of idea). (7) Then Prime Minister Rudd up to his eyeballs in bid process - the least we can expect from a country serious about a bid. See the US President and British PM for examples. (8) All allegations about the propriety of specialist consultants either unsubstantiated - or the topic of a football literature ‘best seller’ and covered months earlier by The Australian – without the sensationalist claims of being an ‘exclusive’ journalistic bombshell. Each of these pieces of "investigative journalism" was nothing more than a 'beat up' from a terrified Melbourne media. I hope the FFA take Fairfax to the cleaners.
JAJI
Guest
So where is Spiro Zavos commentary here? He was the one fully supporting those recalcitrant journos at the Age (his work colleagues mind you) for their "investigative" piece of journalism which has amounted to nothing. FIFA has 100% cleared the FFA and now they are going to feel the brunt of Frank Lowys legal team.....
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Ha, Ha, I hope Frank Lowy gets his apology from those Melbourne Journos for what could have derailed the World Cup Bid. If that has not already happen---what a disgraceful act it was from the AGE to publish such lies.. _____ AF