Qatar World cup organisers insist the crisis at FIFA will not affect their preparations for the tournament in 2022.
Fresh reports have stated that the FBI are including the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in the scope of their wider investigations into FIFA, and that Sepp Blatter – who announced on Tuesday he is to step down as FIFA president days after winning re-election – is also being investigated.
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The US justice department has indicted 18 people on corruption charges, but the charges are unrelated to the two tournaments. There is, however, a Swiss investigation ongoing into the award of the 2018 tournament to Russia and the prospective Qatari edition of world football’s showpiece.
A statement from Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery Legacy said: “The recent events at FIFA will not impact on our preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
BREAKING: Law Enforcement Official: FBI investigation includes scrutiny of awarding World Cup to Russia and Qatar. #SSNHQ
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“With five stadiums currently under construction we are ahead of schedule to deliver on our promises. Qatar has faced criticism from the moment we won the right to bring this tournament to the Middle East for the first time.
“We remain committed to using the World Cup as a platform to break down prejudice and misconceptions, while leaving a lasting legacy for our country and the region.”
Meanwhile, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) has hit back at English football boss Greg Dyke’s claims that the 2022 World Cup organisers should be nervous following recent developments.
A statement on behalf of QFA president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani told Dyke that Qatar had nothing to hide over its controversial bid. It also urged him to make good on his pledge of building an England team capable of winning the tournament.
“Mr Dyke’s instinct to immediately focus on stripping Qatar of the World Cup speaks volumes on his views concerning what will be the first FIFA World Cup to take place in the Middle East,” read the statement.
“Having already co-operated fully with Mr Garcia’s investigation – and been subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing – we welcome the Office of the Swiss Attorney General conducting its own work into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
“We would urge Mr Dyke to let the legal process take its course and concentrate on delivering his promise to build an England team capable of winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.”
The QFA was responding to remarks made by Dyke immediately after the dramatic resignation of Blatter, which followed the arrests of several top FIFA officials in a US corruption probe.
The Russia 2018 local organising committee issued a statement yesterday in which it praised Blatter for his “enormous contribution” to football at all levels.
It added: “In 2018 the FIFA World Cup will be held for the first time on the territory of the world’s largest country. The Russia 2018 LOC will continue to work closely with FIFA towards this goal on a daily basis.”
