Nothing to hide: Qatar WCup bid organizers
Updated: 2014-06-15 15:12
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
SAO PAULO - The organizers of Qatar's bid to host the 2022 World Cup have denied allegations published by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper that a senior Qatari soccer official made payments in order to win support for the bid.
Newspaper alleges $5m corruption in 2022 WCup vote
FIFA bribery scandals |
"These allegations are baseless and riddled with innuendo designed to tarnish the reputation of Qatar's 2022 Bid Committee," organizers said.
They added that the allegations appeared to be deliberately timed to coincide with an investigation by FIFA, world soccer's governing body, into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Russia won the right to host the 2018 tournament.
Michael Garcia, the US lawyer leading the probe, said in Brazil this week that he would consider any evidence brought before him before releasing a final report.
If corruption was proved, Qatar could be stripped of the Cup, or at least face a challenge to its position as host either through a re-vote or other processes.
"It should be clear that these leaks are not an attempt to shine light on the 2018/2022 bidding process," the statement said. "They are, instead, a flagrant attempt to prejudice an ongoing independent investigation.
"Certainly, if the source of these leaks were genuinely concerned with the evidence, they would have provided the leaked documents to Mr. Garcia, as he requested, instead of offering them to the media."
Related Stories
Lucio: balance key to Brazil World Cup bid 2014-04-22 11:05
Gdansk mayor urges Poland to make World Cup bid 2012-06-21 16:01
Spain launches 2014 basketball World Cup bid 2012-01-27 10:51
Senator wants FIFA to pay back World Cup bid costs 2011-05-30 13:55
Russia's World Cup bid not won by luck: Putin 2010-12-16 20:47
China still interested in World Cup bid 2010-12-03 19:19
Today's Top News
China finds way to play in 2014 World Cup
Protocol targets sex violence
Premier all business on Europe trip
Poland-China train on maiden trip
Iraq facing 'mortal threat' from militants
China, Italy boost ties
Brazil averts strike before WCup
Red meat 'linked to cancer'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Long march to end employment bias |
Variety is the spice of academic life |
Documents prove the truth can't be buried |
Race to remember story of resistance |