Exclusive: Collins urges World Cup 2022 re-vote if Qatar allegations are proven

By Andrew Warshaw

May 15 – One of the British MPs who exposed football’s latest corruption scandal has urged FIFA to stage a re-vote if it is proved that 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar bribed two senior officials.

Damian Collins says world football’s governing body should seriously consider a replacement ballot if there is firm evidence that last December’s original vote was in any way rigged.

After receipt of a written submission from The Sunday Times newspaper, Collins used Parliamentary privilege to reveal at last week’s Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing that $1.5 million (£917,000) was allegedly paid by Qatar to two FIFA voting members, African football chief Issa Hayatou and Jacques Anouma from the Ivory Coast.

Both went on to vote for Qatar, which won the right to host the World Cup in 2022 by a landslide in the biggest bidding upset ever in world sport.

Altogether six FIFA Executive Committee members are now in the dock following former England 2018 bid chairman Lord Triesman’s equally remarkable claims – at the same parliamentary hearing – that four other powerbrokers, including FIFA’s most senior vice-president Jack Warner, sought sweeteners in exchange for voting for England.

Warner allegedly asked for £2.5 million ($4 million) to build an education centre in his native Trinidad while Paraguay’s Nicolas Leoz allegedly wanted a knighthood.

All the accused have vehemently denied any wrongdoing but both FIFA and the English Football Association have launched separate investigations into both Triesman’s testimony and the revelations concerning Qatar.

It is understood there could be difficulties verifying Triesman’s remarks through lack of firm evidence and it is the allegations concerning Qatar’s successful bid that are suddenly coming under most scrutiny.

FIFA’s Ethics Committee has already suspended two senior Exco officials, Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, following damning initial revelations over cash for votes in a Sunday Times expose.

Both were prevented from voting for the host of the World Cups in 2018 and 2022 in December.

Collins says FIFA must consider a revote if there is enough evidence to throw the book at Hatayou and Anouma.

“What FIFA have to do is either clear their names or, if they are proven guilty, take action,” said Collins.

“That applies to all six men but if there is a breach of the rules over Qatar, it will have to mean re-opening the 2022 bidding process.

“I don’t see how you can avoid it if the charges are proven that a winning country broke the rules in terms of contacts with FIFA Executive Committee members.”

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