[photo by Marcello Casal Jr.]

• by Joe Curtis, writing from Pembroke Pines, FL

Corruption and Sepp Blatter seem to go hand-in-hand. After Russia and Qatar won the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids everyone claimed some kind of bribery had taken place. How else would Qatar have won the 2022 World Cup? Qatar is a very wealthy Middle Eastern country, so it makes sense. Is it a coincidence that Mohamed bin Hammam, the President of the Asian Football Confederation who just happens to be Qatari, is under investigation for bribery in his campaign to unseat Sepp Blatter? Qatar just keeps popping up in FIFA corruption talks. It seems that Mohamed bin Hammam is more corrupt than Sepp Blatter.

FIFA has called on Mohamed bin Hammam and FIFA Vice President & CONCACAF President Jack Warner to attend an ethics hearing Sunday to face allegations of corruption two weeks ago. "This move is little more than a tactic being used by those who have no confidence in their own ability to emerge successfully from the FIFA presidential election," bin Hammam wrote in a statement on his official website.

FIFA VP Jack Warner's longtime ally, Chuck Blazer is the man who is accusing bin Hammam of corruption. Blazer's report, which FIFA said "include bribery allegations," resulted in an ethics committee investigation. This ethics panel can provisionally suspend officials under suspicion while evidence is gathered for a full hearing. This step was taken when investigating two of bin Hammam's FIFA executive committee colleagues prior to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes last December. Yes, this is the second time an investigation has taken place, linking this corruption investigation to the cry of corruption after Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup. This is getting interesting.

Bin Hammam was a big part in Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup. A British Parliamentary hearing accused Qatar of paying $1.5 million bribes to two African FIFA executive committee members, Issa Hayatou and Jacques Anouma. They deny the claims. Now Bin Hammam is accused of offering $40,000 to Caribbean soccer officials as part of his pitch to become president of FIFA. It is also reported that Bin Hammam offered around $2 million in cash to delegates as funds for “football development”. This is getting even more interesting.

The evidence presented to FIFA includes photographs of the money, e-mails, text messages and signed affidavits from officials that corroborate the allegations. “I completely deny any allegations of wrongdoing either intentionally or unknowingly while I was in the Caribbean,” Bin Hammam said in a statement.

This scandal has all but ruined Mohamed bin Hammam's chances of becoming the next FIFA President, but makes one wonders if it is true that Qatar bid to host the 2022 WC was successful because of a bribe.

---

References: espn.com and bloomberg.com

---