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Qatar ‘may be stripped of World Cup’ 30, May 2011

Posted by thegulfblog.com in Qatar.
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10 comments

Football’s governing body, FIFA, is currently undergoing a painful and acrimonious bout of self-reflection. In the run up to the FIFA Presidential elections the incumbent, Sepp Blatter, was faced by Qatar’s Mohammed Bin Hammam. However, amid an ever widening corruption scandal, Bin Hammam pulled out of the race leaving Blatter unopposed.

Now Blatter is warning that a re-run of the voting for the 2022 World Cup is possible. Thus far it is impossible to say whether a re-run is likely. For sure, many people in the world of football were not amused that the World Cup went to Qatar, a small country with a tiny population, with scorching summers, with no history of football and whose bid comprehensively outspent all others by a significant degree. Thus far there are plenty of accusations of impropriety and corruption, but none have been proven yet. If any are linked directly to Qatar’s successful bid then a re-draw is certainly on the cards.

Being stripped of the World Cup would be catastrophically embarrassing for Qatar and only marginally less so for FIFA. Also that notion that Blatter were to oversee such a re-run having not being indicted in any way, shape or form is absurd too and will – rightly – leave the Qataris feeling wholly and profoundly bitter.

UPDATE

FIFA have called an emergency press conference for tonight though no-one is sure what it’s about…

On the England World Cup bid and Panorama 29, November 2010

Posted by thegulfblog.com in UK.
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3 comments

Tonight on BBC1 there is a Panorama (an investigative show) examining corruption in FIFA, football’s world governing body. This comes in the week before the host for the next two World Cups is to be held. England are hoping to host the 2018 tournament.

The BBC are being pilloried in the UK for the timing of this programme with many fearing that by highlighting examples of corruption in FIFA England will be punished when the voting comes.

I am ordinarily the sternest defender of the BBC. I think that it’s a wonderful service and one of the best things about the UK. However on this occasion, I just can’t understand what they are doing. Surely this is guarantees to cost England votes when there is already stiff competition?

The fact that there is corruption in FIFA is up there with journalistic scoops like “Pope is a Catholic” and “Gaddafi in some absurd announcement”: everyone knows that its a mire of vote-buying and general malfeasance.

What’s worse is that England are due a world cup. Though I’m English and would like to see the WC in England, by any standard measure, England ought to have a very good chance: world class stadia, proven ability to handle such events, a fanaticism for football, guaranteed pay-day for FIFA, well placed for the majority of football fans in the world, being the country that gave the world the game but has not held the tournament since 1966 and so on: England are due and, while I hope I’m wrong, I think that the BBC have just lost England the tournament.