Football Federation Australia have released a strong statement after being accused by FIFA of bribing parties for votes in their $45 million bid for the 2022 World Cup.
They also refuted claims of any wrongdoing, and insist they are still dissatisfied with the process they engaged in for the bid.
The full statement from the FFA is here:
Australia conducted a clean bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has rejected assertions to the contrary arising from the release overnight of the FIFA Ethics Committee report, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman Frank Lowy AC said today.
“FFA did its best to run a competitive and compliant bid and to do it wherever possible hand-in-hand with the Australian Government, with the customary government oversight,” said Lowy.
“We also involved, wherever possible, other bodies such as UNICEF and FIFA itself. In addition, the financial management of the bid funds were routinely reported to Government and reviewed by independent external auditors.
“I made it clear to all involved in our bid that we would run a clean campaign and I stressed this objective at every opportunity.”
In relation to the football development programs, Lowy said that the Australian Bid was encouraged by FIFA to take every opportunity to demonstrate Australia’s commitment to football, especially in developing regions.
“It’s clear that this led us to be misled in particular relating to a payment made to CONCACAF which was later revealed to have been misappropriated,” said Lowy.
“In hindsight, there are many things we might have done differently and we remain disappointed by our experience of the World Cup bidding process.”
Lowy stressed that the Australian Bid had co-operated fully with the Garcia inquiry and in August this year received Mr Garcia’s written thanks for this cooperation.
FFA will now await advice from FIFA on the next steps in the process following the apparent dispute between chairmen of the FIFA Ethics Committee’s Adjudicatory and Investigatory chambers.
Beny Iniesta
Guest
Please clarify then. What is the American equivalent of the AFP? Also, what is the Australian equivalent of the FBI?
AR
Guest
"But, hoping those super sleuths: Baker & McKenzie dig deeply into the sordid world of narcotics & PED abuse in AFL." The won a Walkley for their investigation into the Essendon doping scandal. How's that for digging deeply?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I don't. But, hoping those super sleuths: Baker & McKenzie dig deeply into the sordid world of narcotics & PED abuse in AFL.
bilbo
Guest
I thought you didnt comment or care about any other sports.?
Leland Facepalmer
Guest
You don't have anything from the AFP ( that's our very own FBI, for those internationals following this thread). Not a report. Not a press release. Nothing. You don't have anything of any stripe from the FFA. You don't even have a news report. All you've got is "2011 or 2012 or something, use the Googles". That's just not good enough. In fact, it's hopeless, and definitely not up to the high standard you set for your worldwide audience. It reflects poorly on your archives, and if that was the best I could come up with, you'd better believe I'd be sorry.
Chris
Guest
"The Australian Federal Police (Australian equivalent of the FBI)" That is not even remotely correct.
AR
Guest
My god. It's been a while since I've watched that video - all of it. If it was a primary school (albeit well-funded) tourism video, it would make some sense...sort of. But it was the visual centrepiece of our Bid to be the host of a billion dollar sporting event. Extraordinary.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Baker & McKenzie lost all credibility when - in their haste to malign SOCKAH to deflect attention from Drugs in AFL - they tried to suggest an ALeague match had been subject to abnormal betting. What these clowns failed to realise was that the betting pool in question was valued in Hong Kong dollars. And, 1 HKD at the time was around 16 cents in Australian currency! Investigative powers of Inspector Clouseau. Looking forward to Baker & McKenzie's exposing the illicit drug problem at West Coast Eagles during the 2000s & PED problem at Essendon.
AR
Guest
Just to clarify, you think the Walkley Award winning investigative journos - McKenzie & Baker - were simply out "to smear the FFA and ipsifacto make the Qatar decision seem like a good one."..??? Woah. For "out there" theories, that's a doozy.
sheek
Roar Guru
I would love someone to do a comedy skit with Blatter reading out the findings of the FIFA report. With each sentence his nose grows longer Pinnochio-like as one lie & untruth is followed by another. Meanwhile camera cuts to Aussie fans guffawing uncontrollably after each lie & untruth is said. And I would love it to go viral on the net.....
Kasey
Guest
FIFA and ethics in the same sentence. I laughed and laughed. Intelligent people would hear that word combination and immediately engage the BS filter. Imagine how much better football could be if these greedy clowns weren't holding us back?
Justin Mahon
Guest
That's not a 'theory'. It's ideology. Don't get me started in wasteful corporate largess. Australian history is repleat with idiot corporates blowing share holder wealth on failed enterprises. If you don't like FIFA or Sokkah - that's fine, but reality is not exchangab with ideology.
Justin Mahon
Guest
You do understand that 'no guarantees' is precisely what a bid is don't you? Like the countless other bids to events a fraction of this importance culturally and economically we have failed at over my 43 years.
Justin Mahon
Guest
There was also a federal government inquiry that cleared the FFA. This is all about using the unsubstantiated McKenzie/Baker stories to smear the FFA and ipsifacto make the Qatar decision seem like a good one. I notice FIFA are careful not to kick the USA Despite the Bkazer stuff. That market is too important.
Anthony Condon
Roar Pro
FIFA conducting a review into corruption. Ironic, or tragic?
Anthony Condon
Roar Pro
It's good to know Australia is Sydney, a rock, some roads, and a couple of trams. At least there were no lawnmowers...
Anthony Condon
Roar Pro
It'd mean that Oceania would get the tournament, at least partially :P
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Billy Birmingham is the wittiest guy I have ever listened to. Sorry I have to link this now, because it is quite possibly the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVNDBluxIv8
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
You left out all the other times Fuss makes good point so you'll probably have Fuss 94874524*vs Everyone else 23. *Everytime someone claims fuss is biased against WSW he gets an extra 5 points
Insominactor
Guest
The Yeti is real.