FIFA to wait before responding to claims the vote to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup could be re-run

 

 

Maybe it's not too late ... FIFA will watch the result of corruption claims. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Football Federation Australia has played a straight bat to suggestions the vote to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup could be re-run - should claims of bribery against Qatar's bid be proven.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has refused to completely rule out the idea of Qatar being stripped of hosting rights, if the claims of wrongdoing are true, raising some hope Australia's bid could be revived after it was the first country eliminated during voting in December.

But FFA would not buy into the speculation on Friday, saying it could not take a position on what was only a hypothetical.

"FFA has yet to seriously consider its position following the FIFA President's comments about the 2022 World Cup bidding process," a FFA spokesperson said.

"If and when FIFA makes a decision about a review, FFA will make a decision on what's best for Australian football.

"Until then, it remains a hypothetical question and FFA won't pre-empt the deliberations of FIFA."

Qatar was controversially awarded the right to host the 2022 tournament ahead of a host of candidates, despite a FIFA report which cast doubts over the tiny Gulf nation's ability to stage the event.

But the legitimacy of the vote had since been thrown into question, with UK newspaper The Sunday Times claiming FIFA executive committee members Issa Hayatou and Jacques Anouma were paid $1.5 million each to vote for Qatar.

The claims have been denied by both men.

Blatter says the whistleblower at the centre of the claims has agreed to go to FIFA to give evidence in person, and has also called for the presentation of findings from an investigation by England's Football Association alleging impropriety by other FIFA executive committee members in the bid for the 2018 World Cup, awarded to Russia.

When asked whether voting could be re-run, should any allegations be proven, Blatter said in an interview at FIFA headquarters: "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'."

Australia received only a sole vote from FIFA's executive committee in December, despite believing it had solid support to compete with fellow bidders also including the US, Japan and South Korea.

Blatter is campaigning to be reinstated as FIFA president for a fourth term and is running against the Qatari president of the Asian football confederation Mohamed Bin Hammam.

England's FA on Thursday announced it would abstain from voting in that presidential battle, referring to a "well-reported range of issues" about both candidates.