Nothing to hide: Qatar WCup bid organizers
Updated: 2014-06-15 15:12
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||
The Sunday Times reported recently that some of the "millions of documents" it had seen linked payments by former FIFA executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam to officials to win backing for Qatar's World Cup bid.
Newspaper alleges $5m corruption in 2022 WCup vote
FIFA bribery scandals |
The Qatar 2022 statement confirmed that it had a "relationship" with Bin Hammam, but repeated earlier denials that he was a part of the official bid team.
"Let us be clear: Mr. Bin Hammam is from Qatar, but he was not a member of Qatar's bid team."
"We have nothing to hide ... In every aspect of the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process, we strictly adhered to FIFA's rules and regulations."
Qatar 2022 said it expected further "attacks" on the bid process this weekend, a reference to a series of articles that have appeared in the Sunday Times about the buildup to the 2010 decision on who should host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
On Saturday, the newspaper released details of its latest report, in which it said FIFA bosses had been warned in a "secret terror briefing" prior to the 2010 vote that there was a "high risk" of a terrorist attack shutting down the event.
It said FIFA's executive committee (Exco) was briefed on the report written by André Pruis, the South African police chief in charge of security at the 2010 World Cup.
While other bid nations were assessed as low to moderate, Pruis concluded: "In view of the risks ... Qatar is allocated a risk rating of high. I am of the view that it would be very difficult to deal with a major incident in such an environment without having to cancel the event."
The Sunday Times report came out shortly after the Qatar 2022 statement was released. A spokesman for the organizers said he had no comment on the latest report.
- Lucio: balance key to Brazil World Cup bid
- Gdansk mayor urges Poland to make World Cup bid
- Spain launches 2014 basketball World Cup bid
- Senator wants FIFA to pay back World Cup bid costs
- Russia's World Cup bid not won by luck: Putin
- China still interested in World Cup bid
- England lose 2018 World Cup bid with two votes only
- Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards
- Fan Bingbing, first Chinese actress in Barbie Hall of Fame
- Awarding ceremony of 2014 hito Pop Music held in Taipei
- Zhao Liying's photo shoot for Children's Day
- 'Taken 2' grabs movie box office crown
- Rihanna's 'Diamonds' tops UK pop chart
- Fans get look at vintage Rolling Stones
- Celebrities attend Power of Women event
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Tongues tied around tatu-bola |
A market that's not such a hot property |
Tough regime cranks out test winners |
Some lab animals get reprieve from testing |
Today's Top News
Former US congressman: Diaoyu belongs to China
US options could help combat advances by Iraqi militants
US applauds voting in Afghan presidential polls
Oregon high school shooter's parents offer apology
Army: Bergdahl 'looked good' after returning to US
Envoy rebuts Vietnam, Philippines on sea issue
Cui: China poses no threat to US
Japanese F-15 tails Chinese jet at close distance
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |