A fresh raft of allegations surrounding the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar have emerged today. Former Fifa vice-president Mohammed bin Hammam is once again at the centre of the allegations, with the Sunday Times today reporting it has seen documents which undermine the claims, made by Qatar 2022 committee in the wake of last week’s allegations by the paper, that bin Hammam has “no official or unofficial role” in the bid to host the World Cup.
Sony has now asked for allegations surrounding the bidding process leading to the awarding of the tournament to Qatar to be “investigated appropriately”. The electronics giant is the first major sponsor to take such action.
Today’s reports concern the relationship between bin Hammam and the Thai members of Fifa’s executive committee (Exco), and a gas deal with a potential value of tens of millions of dollars to Thailand. There are also claims of evidence showing bin Hammam met with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly before the vote that saw Russia awarded the 2018 World Cup and Qatar the 2022 tournament. “Bilateral relations” in sport between Qatar and Russia were reportedly discussed at the meeting, just one month before the December 2010 vote that saw both awarded a World Cup with comprehensive victories.
Uefa President Michel Platini is also a central figure in today’s revelations, with bin Hammam reported to have arranged meetings with the European football head. Meetings between the Qatari royal family and at least seven Exco members, including Fifa President Sepp Blatter, are also reported to have been arranged by bin Hammam.
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