Fifa lodges criminal complaint over suspicious activity during World Cup bidding process November 18, 2014 The unfurling drama surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup has taken yet another twist after Fifa revealed it has suspicions of unlawful activity. Fifa has lodged a criminal complaint with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland over the possible misconduct of unnamed individuals in connection with Switzerland [...]
Fifa whistleblowers Phaedra Almajid and Bonita Mersiades claim corruption report breached confidentiality and questioned credibility November 17, 2014 Whistleblowers who tried to raise the alarm bells over the Qatar and Australia World Cup bids have accused Fifa of trying to discredit them, and breaking promises to keep their identity confidential. Phaedra Almajid, a former member of the Qatari team who quit in 2010, and Bonita Mersiades, who worked on the Australian bid, [...]
Fifa accused of whitewash over bid probe farce November 13, 2014 FIFA faced a barrage of whitewashing accusations last night after the lawyer hired to investigate World Cup corruption claimed football’s world governing body had misrepresented his findings. Michael Garcia, Fifa’s chief ethics investigator, said a report published yesterday that found no cause to re-run the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, won [...]
Omnishambles as Fifa’s corruption report is branded “erroneous” by lawyer Michael Garcia – the man who conducted the investigation November 13, 2014 If you were spitting feathers this morning over the Fifa report which exonerated Qatar and Russia but put England in the spotlight, you weren't the only one. Lawyer Michael Garcia, who actually conducted the investigation, has issued a statement slamming the report summary published this morning. He claimed the report, written by Fifa ethics judge [...]
Fifa: Qatar and Russia bids given thumbs up – but English FA could face further action November 13, 2014 Fifa's investigation into Fifa's handling of Qatar's successful bid to host the World Cup 2022 has been cleared by..er… Fifa. Fifa's ethics committee, headed by Joachim Eckert, acknowledged there had been a “significant lack of transparency” in Qatar's bid. Computers used for Russia's 2018 bid were destroyed. But while there was evidence of some [...]
World Cup 2022 dates: Qatar tournament “most likely” to be held in winter according to Fifa secretary November 3, 2014 The 2022 World Cup in Qatar looks to be heading for a winter tournament after Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke today confirmed it would most likely be held at the beginning or end of the year. Valcke said January/February 2022 or November/December 2022 are “the most likely” dates for the World Cup, however he also [...]
Fifa like intelligence agency, says investigator October 13, 2014 THE LAWYER tasked with investigating allegations of Fifa corruption has urged football’s world governing body to stop operating under a cloak of secrecy better suited to an intelligence agency. Michael Garcia used an appearance yesterday in the City of London to call for Fifa to implement greater transparency and a change in tone of leadership [...]
Former Manchester United chief exec David Gill nominated for Fifa vice-presidency role October 7, 2014 David Gill, the former chief executive of Manchester United, has been nominated by the FA for a vice-presidency role on Fifa’s executive committee. The FA vice-chairman claims he could be a “driving force” for reform if elected to the committee. In the past Gill has publicly called upon Fifa president Sepp Blatter to step [...]
World Cup 2022: Bookies reckon Qatar’s odds-on to be stripped of the tournament by FIFA September 22, 2014 Bookmaker Coral has made Qatar odds-on to be stripped of the 2022 World Cup by Fifa. The move comes after Fifa executive committee member Theo Zwanziger told German newspaper Bild that he did not think the World Cup would take place in the Gulf state. Coral has issued odds of 1/2 that Qatar will be [...]
Fifa ethics committee orders FAs to return £16,000 luxury watch September 18, 2014 Fifa has ordered the FA and other football associations (FAs) to hand over a £16,000 luxury watch given to management by the Brazilian football federation (CBF). According to Fifa, officials from the 32 nations competing at this summer’s World Cup were given the watches as a gift from the CBF at a pre-tournament congress [...]