By Andrew Warshaw
June 4 – UEFA president Michel Platini has hit back forcefully at reports linking him to corruption allegations over Qatar’s victorious 2022 World Cup bid. Hours after INSIDEworldfootball exclusively quoted a source close to Platini that discussions the Frenchman held with disgraced former Qatari powerbroker Mohamed bin Hammam were solely about bin Hamman’s efforts to secure a rival to Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency and nothing to do with 2022, Platini himself confirmed as much.
He insisted Qatar’s bid to stage the tournament was never mentioned in a meeting he had with bin Hammam on the eve of the ballot that secured the event for the tiny Gulf state, arguably the biggest surprise in World Cup voting history.
Qatar’s campaign took place at the same time Bin Hammam was considering a challenge to Sepp Blatter – a challenge he only undertook when Platini declined and which ultimately never bore fruit when bin Hammam was forced to quit football after being found guilty of corruption and mismanagement, which he has always denied.
Claims in English newspaper the Daily Telegraph about Platini’s alleged involvement followed the rival Sunday Times alleging Bin Hammam paid officials millions of dollars to support Qatar’s successful campaign.
In a rare letter of complaint to the Telegraph Editor, Platini denounced the “unfounded rumours which aim at tarnishing my image.”
“I find it astonishing that conversations with a fellow member of the FIFA Executive Committee could suddenly be transformed into a matter of state,” Platini said in the letter released by UEFA.
The UEFA president said he “obviously” met Bin Hammam, a longtime FIFA exco member and fellow Confederation leader, “on many occasions in 2010.”
“During those conversations with Mr. Bin Hammam, the topic of the discussions was my potential candidature for the FIFA presidency,” Platini wrote. “Mr. Bin Hammam was indeed trying to convince me to become a candidate for the 2011 FIFA presidential elections.”
Bin Hammam’s stated aim to seek a deal with Platini for European votes was widely reported in March 2011. But days before the ballot, bin Hammam withdrew as he faced bribery claims and Blatter was re-elected unopposed.
“I wish to reiterate that I am the only member of the FIFA Executive Committee who publicly stated for which bid I have voted – proof of my full transparency,” Platini wrote in a strongly worded defence of his conduct, “and that no one ever dictates terms or conditions to me.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, Domenico Scala, admitted the powers of responsibility of FIFA’s executive committee posed a threat to the organisation’s image.
“The highest single risk at FIFA is the executive committee and its members,” Scala told Bloomberg. “Which is why the reforms have all tried and have actually achieved the limitation of their decision-making powers by introducing several checks and balances. The single individual missing point now is the limitation on the terms of office.”
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