According to a report from The Telegraph, the former Vice-President of FIFA, Jack Warner and his family received upwards of $2 million (U.S.) from a Qatari Company. The company was linked to the successful Qatar 2022 World Cup bid, and run by a former Qatari football official.
Eyebrows were raised when Qatar was handed the 2022 event, as the country’s climate led to serious questions about the possibility of holding such an event in the normal summer schedule so as to not disrupt the major European football leagues. At the time FIFA officials and Qatar bid representatives dismissed these concerns saying that the technology to cool stadiums for the players and fans would be available.
As time has passed though, the problems with the planned Qatar tournament have only grown, and really should have been anticipated. The climate problem will not be solved, and how to run a World Cup in the winter is now being discussed.
More disturbingly are the conditions workers are facing in the country. There has been a mass influx of migrant workers from Nepal. According to reports nearly 200 migrant workers died in Qatar in 2013 and the number continues to rise.
From the Telegraph report:
“Jack Warner, the former vice-president of Fifa, appears to have been personally paid $1.2 million (£720,000) from a company controlled by a former Qatari football official shortly after the decision to award the country the tournament.
Payments totalling almost $750,000 (£450,000) were made to Mr Warner’s sons, documents show. A further $400,000 (£240,000) was paid to one of his employees.”
…
The document is dated December 15, 2010, two weeks after Qatar won the right to host the tournament, and states that the money is “payable to Jack Warner”.
Also according to the Telegraph, the FBI is now investigating the the Trinidad-based Warner in relation to the connections with the company and the Qatar bid. His son, who lives in Miami, is said to be co-operating with authorities.
There have been allegations of corruption since before the voting for the 2022 World Cup took place. In 2010, two members of the 24 member panel who were supposed to vote on the locations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup were suspended after they were found attempting to sell their votes. The vote went ahead with 22 of the 24 members casting ballots. Jack Warner was a senior member of the 22 man committee.
England was also bidding for the event. Following the failed bid a parliamentary committee held an iquiry into the failed. The bid’s former chairman, Lord Triesman, stated that Warner was among four committee members who had asked for business deals or favours in exchange for supporting the English bid. These requests were refused.
In June 2011, Warner resigned from FIFA in disgrace. He was caught on tape apparently urging fellow FIFA officials to accept cash gifts from Mohamed Bin Hammam, who was running against Sepp Blatter to be FIFA president. A report from the Fifa ethics committee found that there was “compelling” evidence that Mr Warner was “an accessory to corruption”. And Bin Hammam was forced to give up his campaign.
Qatar has repeatedly denied the allegations of corruption.
A spokesman for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organising committee said: “The 2022 bid committee strictly adhered to Fifa’s bidding regulations in compliance with their code of ethics.
“The supreme committee for delivery and legacy and the individuals involved in the 2022 bid committee are unaware of any allegations surrounding business dealings between private individuals.”
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