LOST EMAILS PREVENTS CO-OPERATION FROM RUSSIA ON FIFA SCANDAL

BY TIM PARSONS

The FBI and Swiss prosecutors are both looking into the controversial bidding process for the 2018 world cup tournament, following the widely known allegations of fraud that has dogged FIFA. Last year, a disputed ruling contained in a FIFA ethics Committee  report, dismissed any prospect of stripping either Russia or Quatar. A disputed summary of a Fifa ethics committee report last year ruled there was not sufficient evidence to strip either Russia or Quatar of the right to host the world cup . However, in light of the recent  charges of fraud , the head of the audit and compliance committee, Domenico Scala has confirmed that that the venue for the next hosts for the next two world cups can still be changed once full evidence is presented.

Russia has in the meantime not co-operated with aspects of investigation claiming to have lost all its emails. Fifa’s general secretary, Jerome Valcke said the Russian World Cup was well in place before the qualifying draw in St. Petersburg in July. And today, Valcke confirmed that moves to arrange the bidding process for the 2026 world cup would be nonsense in the current climate. The U.S. ministry of justice have charged 14 officials, with 4 additional officials entering guilty pleas. Fifa have thrown open invitations from bidders in any confederation except Asia, which will be decided by the 209 member associations in 2017. However, Vitaly Mutko,- Russia’s sports minister, also a member of the Fifa executive committee insists that all events of the 2018 FIFA world cup ”are well on track and will go through at top level” . He also denied any wrong doing in relation to the $10m payment to a Carribean Football union account under Warner’s authority.

Russia’s sports minister told eye of media ”  the South African authorities made a request which we understood to be in line with the rules. It was not Fifa’s money,  we were asked to use the money for a legacy programme. My hands are clean, any criticism against me in relation to that money is just baseless  propaganda”. However, Jack Warner’s deputy,   Chuck Blazer has pleaded guilty to 10 criminal charges, including using some of the £10m as a bribe for South Africa to host the world cup. How sad and distasteful to know for sure that those who are suppose to be guarding the interest of the sport we all love, was instead perverting aspects of its legitimate process.  It is good that he can sleep at night if he has nothing to hide in relation to that huge some of money. South Africa hosted a very successful world cup in 2010, but inside reports that Morocco actually were the rightful winners to bid the tournament that year will surely get some stomachs turning.

Russia will have no chance of hosting this tournament in the present climate of grand corruption. No way! England will now have every reason to fight for the right to host the 2018 World Cup, after the efforts of Prince William and David Beckham was scuppered by what is now known to have been bribery and corruption of epic proportions. A thorough rebidding process is absolutely necessary , and this time transparency at every stage would be required. A date for the successor of Sepp Blatter- the former FIFA president, has now been set for December 16 this year.