Blatter refuses to rule out re-run of Cup bid

FIFA PRESIDENT Sepp Blatter refused to rule out a re-run of the 2022 World Cup bid vote if bribery allegations are proven after announcing that the whistleblower at the centre of the claims has agreed to go to Fifa to give evidence in person.

The whistleblower alleged that Fifa members Issa Hayatou and Jacques Anouma were paid $1.5 million each to vote for Qatar, according to evidence given to a Parliamentary committee by the Sunday Times.The pair deny the claims. Blatter said the newspaper has agreed to bring the whistleblower, who had worked for the Qatar 2022 bid organisation, to Zurich to testify in person but would not be drawn on the possibility of a re-vote taking place.

He said: “This is an idea circulating already around the world which is alarming. But don’t ask me now yes or no, let us go step by step. It’s like we are in an ordinary court and in an ordinary court we cannot ask: ‘if, if, if’.”

Blatter, speaking in an interview at Fifa headquarters, added: “We are anxiously awaiting for these evidences or non-evidences in order that we can take the adequate steps. We will organise and the newspaper have agreed that we will bring this whistleblower here to Zurich and then we will have an investigation of this.”

The interview will be conducted by Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke and legal director Marco Villiger, and will also cover the whistleblower’s claims that Nigerian Fifa member Amos Adamu had agreed to the cash-for-votes deal with Qatar only to be suspended for the vote.

Blatter said he was also keen for the independent investigation commissioned by the FA into other claims made by ex-chairman Lord Triesman to provide their findings as soon as possible – Fifa’s Congress opens in 11 days.

Triesman alleged impropriety by four other Fifa members – Trinidad’s Jack Warner, Thailand’s Worawi Makudi, Brazil’s Ricardo Teixeira and Paraguay’s Nicolas Leoz – while he was head of England’s 2018 World Cup bid, claiming in Parliament that they asked for cash or favours.

Blatter added: “We have to see evidence and then we will intervene. We have received the declarations made in the House of Commons but we have not received any evidence. The whole procedure cannot be done in 11 days but before 11 days – by April 27th – we must know whether the allegations are true or not true – or unproven. If they are not true this case is over.

“The ethics committee is already alerted and alarmed – they are not just lying on the beach – and the members will come for the Congress and can convene at very short notice.”

Blatter added that he was pleased with the FA’s move to appoint James Dingemans QC, a deputy high court judge, to carry out the inquiry.