FIFA was plunged deeper into crisis yesterday when its general-secretary confirmed he had sent a private e-mail to a fellow executive committee member saying Qatar bought the rights to stage the 2022 World Cup.
Jerome Valcke, who as general-secretary of world soccer’s governing body is president Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man, told reporters an e-mail made public by vice president Jack Warner was genuine.
Warner, who is under provisional suspension from all soccer activity, said the e-mail referred to Mohammed bin Hammam, who was at that time a candidate to stand against Blatter in the presidential election.
“For MBH, I never understood why he was running,” Warner quoted the e-mail from Valcke as saying. “If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore JSB [Blatter]. Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC [World Cup].”
Bin Hammam withdrew from the presidential race before an ethics committee suspended him and Warner on Sunday.
The committee decided both men had cases to answer over allegations that the Qatari paid bribes to Caribbean officials to vote for him in tomorrow’s election instead of Blatter.
AUTHENTIC
Valcke told reporters in Zurich yesterday he did send the e-mail, but that Warner had only published selected parts of it.
“It was a private e-mail and we will discuss it,” Valcke said ahead of the FIFA congress which starts today. “He sent me an e-mail asking if I want that [bin Hammam to run]. He said that I should ask bin Hammam to pull out.”
Also yesterday, an Australian senator demanded a refund from FIFA on the US$48.8 million the country spent on its bid for the 2022 World Cup, won by Qatar.
Qatar denied any wrongdoing in its bid to stage the 2022 World Cup.
“Qatar 2022 categorically deny any wrongdoing in connection with their winning bid,” a statement released by a bid spokesman said. “We are urgently seeking clarification from FIFA about the statement from their general-secretary. In the meantime, we are taking legal advice to consider our options.”
Blatter, the 75-year-old Swiss, was scheduled to address a press conference later yesterday.
UNOPPOSED
He is set to stand unopposed for a fourth term in charge of FIFA tomorrow amid widespread calls for reform of the organization, which has been dogged by allegations of corruption.
Problems have been stacking up for FIFA and Blatter, who was cleared of any wrongdoing in the bribes-for-votes hearing on Sunday, since the vote to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Last November, executive committee members Reynald Temarii and Amos Adamu were banned over allegations that they agreed to sell their votes in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting contest to undercover newspaper reporters.
In total, 10 of the 24 members of the powerful executive committee have been subject to allegations of corruption in the past year.
Questioned by reporters on Sunday, Valcke agreed that FIFA was facing “a watershed moment,” drawing comparisons with the International Olympic Committee’s crisis when delegates were found guilty of taking bribes for votes to award the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City.
During Blatter’s 13 years in charge, FIFA has grown rich through sales of TV rights, sponsorship and merchandising opportunities and currently boasts reserves of more than US$1 billion.
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