January 27 – The 2022 World Cup should be handed directly to the United States if Qatar is stripped of hosting the tournament, according to FIFA presidential outsider Jerome Champagne.
The 2018 and 2022 bidding contests are both under scrutiny by Switzerland’s attorney general who is investigating suspected money laundering, and American federal prosecutors’ wider probe of corruption in FIFA business.
As he prepared to take centre stage as the sole candidate appearing at the European Parliament’s debate on the future of FIFA, Champagne told French radio station that as runner-up in the 2010 ballot, the US should automatically be awarded the 2022 finals if Qatar is found guilty of wrongdoing, rather that stage a revote.
“It should not be a revote but apply the International Olympic Committee’s legal precedent, giving the gold medal to the silver medalist,” said Champagne, FIFA’s former international relations director.
Qatar beat the Americans 14-8 in the final round of voting and Champagne says the Gulf state should be given the benefit of the doubt unless wrongdoing is proved. “The presumption of innocence must also go to the Qataris.”
Champagne also takes a dim view of plans by presidential rivals to expand the World Cup to 40 teams, denouncing the “totally electioneering proposals” of his opponents to add eight more countries for 2026 and distribute hundreds of millions of dollars more from FIFA reserves.
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