There could be more uproar from FIFA coming soon. The world football governing body has hired a US law firm to investigate whether or not the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 World Cup were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively because of bribery and corruption. If either vote ends up being deemed as not above board, then the venues of one or both could yet change, even though changing the 2018 World Cup would be a drastic measure with it being so close.
The new FIFA internal investigation will put some pressure on the members of FIFA’s Executive Committee who were involved in picking Russia and Qatar as the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup respectively. The law firm will be looking for bribery and corruption over the controversial ballots and any members who don’t come clean could face the sack and there is a small chance that venues could be changed.
Ten of the 22 members who voted on 2018 and 2022 remain on the executive, including presidential candidates Michel Platini of UEFA and Chung Mong-joon of South Korea. Qatar is still 2/5 favourites to host the 2022 World Cup, with the USA at 5/2.
As well as facing dismissal, members could also face further investigations by American law enforcement agencies. The US Department of Justice is already involved in the prosecution of corruption cases by officials linked to FIFA business, although FIFA themselves are being treated as a victim. If FIFA were to be indicted, then that would pretty much ruin them.
Platini, meanwhile, has won the backing of the head of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheik Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, to take over from Sepp Blatter, which is significant given his main rival is from that continent. Platini remains 8/11 favourite with online betting site Coral to become the next FIFA President.
