Qatar Committee Rejects World Cup Bribe Claims

The Qatar 2022 Bid Committee has denied any wrongdoing following reports that corruption was involved in their successful bid to host the World Cup.

The Sunday Times claimed Mohamed Bin Hammam, a former Fifa executive member for Qatar, made payments totalling $5m (£2.98m) to football bosses to secure support for the bid.

But the committee said in a statement it "always upheld the highest standard of ethics and integrity" in relation to its attempt to hold the tournament in the Middle East country.

Lusail Stadium which would host the final of the 2022 World Cup

And it added Mr Bin Hammam played no official or unofficial role in the committee.

It went on: "We vehemently deny all allegations of wrongdoing. We will take whatever steps are necessary to defend the integrity of Qatar's bid and our lawyers are looking in to this matter.

"The right to host the tournament was won because it was the best bid and because it is time for the Middle East to host its first World Cup."

Mohamed Bin Hammam with Fifa president Blatter in 2010

Meanwhile, a Fifa vice-president has told Sky News that if evidence of corruption in Qatar's bid is found then a revote would have to be considered.

Jim Boyce told Sky News: "I have absolutely no doubt that if there's concrete evidence being supplied by Mr Garcia (Fifa's chief investigator) to Fifa and to the executive committee then it's got to be taken very seriously and I hope the right decision would be made at that time."

The paper claims Mr Bin Hammam used 10 slush funds to pay cash to football officials in order to create a "groundswell" of support for Qatar's campaign.

The decision to award the World Cup to Qatar has proved controversial

Millions of emails and other documents relating to the payments were obtained by the newspaper.

Mr Bin Hamman also allegedly hosted lavish junkets for African officials at which he handed out almost $400,000 in cash.

It is also alleged he paid $1.6m (£950,000) into bank accounts controlled by Jack Warner, the former vice president of Fifa, some $450,000 (£268,000) of which was paid before the vote for the World Cup.

People celebrate after Qatar was awarded the World Cup in 2010

The newspaper said Mr Bin Hammam declined to respond when asked about the claims.

Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told Sky's Murnaghan programme that if the allegations "are even remotely correct" it brings into question whether Qatar should host the tournament.

Speaking on the same programme, a former director of public prosecutions said criminal proceedings could follow.

Ken MacDonald said: "This is evidence of very serious crime and the fact that the allegation is that they used dollars, US dollars, means that the Justice Department in Washington has jurisdiction over this.

"If the Justice Department started to take an interest in this then I think Fifa would feel the heat very very quickly."

Ex-Football Association chief executive Mark Palios meanwhile told Sky News people would find it difficult not to conclude the bidding process was "flawed" if the allegations are proven.

John Whittingdale, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee, told Sky News if the claims are true, Fifa president Sepp Blatter should resign.

"These are obviously very serious allegations and they need to be investigated very quickly," he said.

"The failure of Sepp Blatter over the past two years really to take this seriously ... does put his position into question."

Shadow sport minister Clive Efford said: "If these allegations are true then those involved should resign.

"FIFA must take urgent action and reopen the bidding for the 2022 World Cup if it wants to restore its credibility."

Mr Bin Hammam was banned for life from football administration by Fifa's ethics committee shortly after a failed campaign for the presidency in 2011.

In 2010, he was among the 22 people who decided to award the World Cup to Qatar.

The decision provoked widespread condemnation, and concerns about the safety of players, who will play in extreme heat.

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