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Fresh allegations of corruption and bribery made around contest to host 2010 World Cup

Fresh allegations of corruption and bribery have been made around the contest to host the 2010 Wo...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.26 7 Jun 2015


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Fresh allegations of corruptio...

Fresh allegations of corruption and bribery made around contest to host 2010 World Cup

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.26 7 Jun 2015


Share this article


Fresh allegations of corruption and bribery have been made around the contest to host the 2010 World Cup.

The Sunday Times claims that Morocco actually won the vote - but the process was rigged in favour of South Africa, which went on to hold the tournament in 2010.

Sky correspondent Enda Brady said: "This is shocking stuff. It centres around the whole voting process, the rights to hold the World Cup.

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"We may well hear from FIFA later in the day."

It comes after former FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner, who was charged by the US last week over alleged corruption within the world football's governing body, has been accused of "playing for time".

Warner, who is an opposition MP in Trinidad and Tobago, was arrested with several other high-profile FIFA officials at the request of US authorities as part of their bribery investigation.

He was released on bail, pending a decision in his extradition case, which could take up to a year.

Warner has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has threatened to divulge an "avalanche" of dirty secrets about FIFA and its outgoing President Sepp Blatter.

But a government minister in his home country has said that he thinks Mr Warner's claims are false.

Communications Minister Vasant Bharath said: "Mr Warner has been making these claims since 2008 when I was chairman of the party.

"On many occasions he has threatened to bring all of these documents into a public forum but has not done so. He subsequently said he was joking and didn't have any and he has now come back with the same documents.

"I don't think he has the information which he says he has. He's bluffing. as he has always done. I think he's just really playing for time."

Meanwhile, England Manager Roy Hodgson refused to speak out about the FIFA saga at a news conference ahead of England's friendly against Ireland.

He said: "It's a question for the hierarchy, the FA and our executives, and we can't accuse of Greg (Dyke) or Martin (Glenn) for stepping forward and making their positions clear on that subject.

"At this moment in time I will concentrate on football and what paid I'm to do which is to coach."

Mr Dyke, the FA chairman, has been openly critical of Mr Blatter.

His comments came after the UK's Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said earlier this week that England was ready to step in if Qatar lost the 2022 event.

Earlier this week, the FAI released a statement and bank statements to clarify their position in regards to the €5m payment they received from FIFA after the 2010 World Cup play off elimination by France.

In the statement the FAI clarify that they met representatives from FIFA on two occasions before the loan was offered. Both sides met 11 days after the Paris game in 2009 and in January of the following year. The loan was agreed upon on January 15th 2010.


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