FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted an internal inquiry into claims of corruption may force a re-vote for the 2022 World Cup hosting rights. The startling admission could re-ignite Australia’s host ambitions, and could give the FFA the unlikeliest of lifelines.
The disclosure by Blatter was made as he told the Press Association that while the idea of the 2022 re-vote by the FIFA executive committee was “alarming”, it had received major support and the rumour was “circulating around the world”.
Qatar’s win, despite FIFA’s own Bid Evaluation Report deeming the operational risk of the Cup in the tiny Emirate as “high”, was greeted with shock and scepticism from many quarters of the game and left Australia’s bid team stunned at the lack of support.
Blatter, who is seeking a fourth re-election as president of FIFA, did not allude to likely outcomes of FIFA’s investigation, refusing only to put any limitation on measures that could be taken if the investigation uncovered corruption.
FIFA were forced to investigate claims made by The Sunday Times, after a whistleblower alleged that million dollar-plus bribes were paid to executive committee members involved in the 2022 vote.
A re-vote would represent the biggest U-turn in the history of the governing body and cause huge disruption in world football.
The English Football Association (FA) will next week deliver a report into corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup, which England saw wrested away by Russia despite perceived strong support.
The FA have also revealed they will abstain from voting in the upcoming FIFA presidential vote between Blatter and Qatari president of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed Bin Hammam.
The FA made reference to a “well-reported range of issues” about both candidates.
The Roar previously reported in an April Fools Day joke: Australia to get 2022 World Cup, FIFA descends into chaos.
Bondy
Guest
These people bring great shame to my sport ( F.I..F.A and Exco's ) nothing will be reversed from any form of inquiry. I read all evaluation reports on both World Cup bids their's Qatar was damning . If any good can come from this it would be to stop this madness, why do people who have a controlling vote on the outcomes of such big events come from nations that don't even have a proper domestic airport nor an effective taxi service ?. If somebody is over the age of 50 and decided to go to the World Cup in Qatar they stand a very strong chance of dying from heat exhaustion. I think of the millions of kids around the world playing this game and to have it corrupted by these old parasites makes me feel sick.
The recalcitrant
Guest
2022 will eventually go to the USA. End of story. If FIFA does not move it voluntarily, the mob will take care of it for them. Qatar will eventually face the same civil unrest as the rest of the mid east. They are just a dodgy oil state. What happens if it runs out in the next 5 or 6 years? It is laughable the whole concept. Maybe Alice Springs could host the ice hockey world cup. Qatar is not even that big into soccer. It makes Australia, by comparison, the most passionate soccer nation going around. It was a sham the whole thing and will end up like Colombia who were supposed to host the 1986 bankrolled by Pablo Escobar's millions of cocaine dollars.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
David Conn has written some excellent articles on this whole affair of late in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2011/may/20/fa-world-cup-2018-sepp-blatter?CMP=twt_gu
andy g
Guest
at least I appear to not be the only one entirely cynical of FIFA, even when they claim they want to do the right thing. perhaps someone can clear something up for me - weren't England only bidding for the 2018 world cup by the time voting occurred? in which case, England weren't burned anyway - Australia and USA were. if there were a re-vote (there won't be), surely only the countries screwed then would be considered? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Midfielder
Guest
What is sad beyond reason ... is the two who have put their hands up ... Is it possible to get two less honourable people running for the boss... As for the recount ... hopefully pressure will bring it about...
apaway
Guest
Blatter has lied and lied in the past so I can't imagine there's any difference here. However, if the proposal for a re-vote does materialise, the ONLY way it would be credible, would be if Qatar's bid was thrown out before voting took place. Furthermore, the remaining 4 bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the USA (assuming they wish to remain in the race) are declared closed straight away, with no more lobbying, no more meetings, no more behind-closed-doors vote-swapping, no more money spent. And then the vote must be done live, in front of a TV camera.
Tom
Guest
Why bother -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Totally agree with the "oceania" vote -- we were conned once, I'm not sure why we even tried for the rights last time. It was to make the thing look like it was a real competition but Australia was never in it.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
They exposed corruption and expelled 2 delegates before the first vote and didn't stop them voting for Qatar. Even if they expel another 4 delegates, Qatar will still win because most of the delegates have been paid by Qatar to vote for them - not just 4 of them. You would have to expell all of the FIFA delegates and hire another 24 FIFA delegates from another planet to get to a vote that was even close to being fair. Qatar will win the second vote (if they have one) and the third, and the fourth . . . Waste of time and money even thinking about it. Lets just hope Qatar can put on a good WC.
Matt F
Guest
won't happen. the timing of these quotes are very similar to the "lets give oceania a full place" policy that blatter installed before another re-election campaign and subsequently took away straight after. also, even if it did happen (which again it won't) do they really expect the losing 2022 nations to spend all that money again on a process that would have just been proven to be corrupt? If hypothetically they were to do this they would need to eliminate any lobbying (which won't happen) and just use the previous submissions in the first bidding process.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
We have to understand that there is a clear link between Sepp's willingness to go looking for corruption in the Qatari bid and the fact that he is about to run for another term as FIFA presidency. There is nothing more to any of this than that.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I think it's a great idea that they have a re-vote. I think it's also a great idea for Australia to not nominate and to abstain from voting.
Victer
Guest
Qatar would still win
Joe FC
Guest
I wouldn't get too excited there's not going to be a change in venue.
TomC
Guest
The Economist suggested that it would be better if you just put world cup hosting rights on ebay and be done with it.
jamesb
Guest
what a farce!
Beny Iniesta
Guest
Forget it. Why should taxpayers piss another $50 million up against the wall? Once bitten, twice shy. Forgeddaboutit.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Brett, should be obvious this pieces is lacking Geoff's finesse, sadly! Would be quite some turnaround. Fascinating possibilities ahead.
Roger
Guest
Nice that they're conducting a review, but I'm not holding my breath. What a circus.
Brett McKay
Guest
Tristan, are you sure Geoff didn't put this piece together too?!? Imagine if FIFA suddenly had pangs of accountability and ordered a revote ?!? :shock: