January 14 – Expert legal opinion commissioned by FIFA to review Michael Garcia’s report into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 world Cup, with specific reference to Russia and Qatar, has cleared both countries of any wrongdoing but warns of lawsuits.
According to Zurich weekly Handelszeitung, Martin Nolte, professor for sports law at the University for sport in Cologne, Germany, and Anton Heini, professor emeritus for civil law at the university of Zurich, have now cleared both hosts.
They say: “The Members of the FIFA Executive Committee need not review the decisions taken on December 2, 2010.” Their comments come with a warning if FIFA decided to anul the 2010 vote.
In this case the legal advice, says Heini, is that a cancellation could trigger “liability caused by unlawful action”. This would open up FIFA to law suits and demands for damages.
With national investment in both countries already running into billions of dollars on the back of the World Cup awards, FIFA would be unable to sustain this kind of potential loss awarded by a court.
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