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Qatar 2022 committee confident of keeping World Cup

Plans dogged by more corruption claims

QATAR’S 2022 organising committee remained confident that it would hold onto the World Cup yesterday despite further corruption allegations and growing international pressure to re-run the vote.

Key World Cup sponsor Sony pushed Fifa to properly investigate the corruption claims earlier in the day.

“As a Fifa partner, we expect these allegations to be investigated appropriately,” said the electronics firm, one of six “partners” making up the highest level of sponsor.

“We continue to expect Fifa to adhere to its principles of integrity ethics and fair play across all aspects of its operations.”

Other major sponsors added their voices to the furore surrounding the bid.

Fellow partner Adidas said the “negative tenor of the public debate around Fifa at the moment is neither good for football nor for Fifa and its partners.”

But the German sportswear company said it was “confident” Fifa was dealing with the claims “as a priority.”

And credit card company Visa added that it hoped Fifa would take “appropriate actions” once its ethics committee reported on the claims.

Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said: “There is an ongoing investigation into the 2018 (awarded to Russia) and 2022 World Cup bid process, with which we have fully co-operated.

“Consistent with Fifa’s rules we have been asked to refrain from commenting on the investigation and we will comply with that request.

“Qatar has won the bid on its merits and we are confident that at the end of the appropriate process, the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar will stand.”

The companies’ pressure over corruption allegations comes on top of trade unionists’ consistent demands that Doha do something about the serious alleged abuses of workers’ rights in Qatar.

Fifa boss Sepp Blatter was forced to defend his perceived inaction over mounting corruption claims, saying on Twitter: “Never ignoring media reports on ethics allegations in football. But let the ethics committee work!”

The Sunday Times published further allegations yesterday regarding former Fifa executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam, claiming it has received “hundreds of millions” of documents related to payments he authorised to football officials.

And Labour Party leader Ed Miliband added his voice to the row yesterday there was an “overwhelming case” for the bidding process to be reopened if the allegations were proved true.

Fifa ethics committee chief Michael Garcia is expected to finalise his report into the claims in mid-July.

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