Fifa President Wants to Move the 2022 World Cup from Qatar

06/26/2014 - 09h51

Fifa President Sepp Blatter intends to move the 2022 World Cup from Qatar when the result of the investigation on the alleged kickback linked to Qatar bid is revealed.

Blatter has already received a signal that the U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia, head of Fifa's Ethics Committee, will confirm that money and privileges were offered to officials and federations during the bid.

According to Folha investigation, Blatter unveiled to European leaders that he only waits for the end of the investigation to discuss the change with the members of the Executive Committee, who haven chosen Qatar in December of 2010 against USA, Australia, South Korea and Japan.

World Cup sponsors and Fifa allies' pressure contribute to the decision.

The scandal deepened in early June after the British "The Sunday Times" published documents proving, according to the newspaper, that Qatar had spent at least US$ 2.26 million to "buy" support.

The U.S. prosecutor's investigation ended on June 9. Garcia and Blatter attended Fifa Congress, in São Paulo. His report will be delivered in July, after the World Cup. The expectation is that by October a decision is made.

Even if it is not proved that the votes of the Executive Committee, whose members are designated by associations and confederations, have been "bought", the prosecutor may suggest a new bid for 2022, motivated by the benefits given to 30 African federations in exchange for the support of the four
representatives of the continent that were part of the Fifa Committee at the time.

In 2013, Fifa changed the bid rules that will apply from the 2026 World Cup: the Executive Committee will no longer choose, but the 209 delegates of its Congress.

Blatter doesn't want to face the distress of maintaining a World Cup in Qatar, under suspicion, especially because the Ethics Committee can punish the individuals who are involved.

He recently said that hosting the event in the Qatar summer would be a "mistake" because of the heat that hits the country in the middle of the year.

In Brazil, Blatter said that Fifa has to carry the "torch of honesty". Publicly, he denies that any decision is taken.

By cancelling the bid, the Swiss will try to show the intention to "clean up" Fifa, what could give him an advantage as a candidate for president, in 2015, or an honorable way out of it.

It would also affect his main opponent and Uefa president (Union of European Football Associations) Michel Platini, one of the most influential enthusiasts of the Qatari hosting rights.

Former French player had his name mentioned in the scandal over alleged secret meetings with the Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam, former Fifa vice-president and accused of being the responsible for the kickback.

Platini, who denies any involvement in the case, is the favorite candidate for Fifa Presidency in the major European federations that resist Blatter's re-election.

Apart from weaken Platini, Blatter is also attending the desire of the media, Government and British football officials, who have engaged in a systematic campaign against the 2022 choice, after England lost to Russia the 2018 bid.

The gesture would take advantage of the likely success of the World Cup in Brazil, which was expected to fail, but which, so far, has been successful.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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