By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – FIFA became the latest organisation today to confirm receipt of an official apology from the whistleblower who has retracted serious bribery allegations made against Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid.
Without identifying the person, who can now be named as Phaedra Almajid – a former employee of the bid – FIFA made a brief statement saying it would not comment on her globally publicised claims that prompted calls for an official inquiry into Qatar’s landslide victory.
“In a consistent and correct way, we have repeatedly said that FIFA would not be making any comments on allegations,” the statement said.
“This policy will continue.
“In a consistent and correct way, we have repeatedly said that FIFA can only act upon evidence.
“This policy will continue.
“When only allegations are made and no evidence is given, FIFA always stands firmly by its members.”
In recent weeks, Almajid’s credibility has been increasingly open to scrutiny when she refused to travel to Zurich to talk to FIFA.
Her apparently unacceptable demands for witness protection prevented any chance of an official inquiry by FIFA into bribery claims against Qatar.
“The whistleblower asked for conditions that could not possibly be accepted by FIFA,” football’s governing body said at the time.
Almajid’s remarkable u-turn should, in theory, make her even more vulnerable than she was before.
It does not appear, however, that she is facing any legal action for having lied.
Was a deal therefore struck to bring about her extensive retraction?
Such speculation is bound to be the next hurdle faced by Qatar’s 2022 World Cup victory, which is constantly under scrutiny despite no evidence that officials acted with impropriety.
Almajid made it clear in her lengthy apology, accompanied by an affidavit, that she alone made the decision and that she was not cajoled by any outside parties.
Some might question whether this rings true and whether she was in fact paid to say sorry.
Highly unlikely given how much stick the Qataris have taken in the months since winning the vote and how frustrated they have become with all the negative publicity.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734845546labto1734845546ofdlr1734845546owedi1734845546sni@w1734845546ahsra1734845546w.wer1734845546dna1734845546
Related stories
July 2011: I lied, claims Qatar 2022 whistleblower
July 2011: Select Committee calls for FIFA to reform bidding processes
June 2011: Valcke prepares for Moscow after cleared over Qatar 2022 comments
June 2011: Germany want investigation into Qatar 2022 bid campaign
May 2011: “Did I say Qatar 2022 bribed people to get World Cup”? – I didn’t mean it, says Valcke