China
16:18, 28-Jun-2017
FIFA report: No corruption in Russia, Qatar World Cup bids
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The prospects of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups hosted by Russia and Qatar have been reinforced after FIFA released a long-awaited report about senior US lawyer Michael Garcia’s investigation into corruption allegations swirling around the voting processes.
The 430-page report makes no suggestion that either country should lose the right to stage the tournaments.
It had been under wraps since FIFA’s then-ethics investigator Garcia completed it in November 2014. FIFA chose to publish it on Tuesday after it was leaked to a German newspaper.
FIFA released a summary of the report shortly after its completion, but Garcia disowned that, saying it was “incomplete and erroneous.”
"Although we question the timing of the leak, we welcome the publication of the Garcia report," Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said in a statement.
Aside from corruption allegations, Qatar’s preparations for hosting the World Cup have been further hampered by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cutting diplomatic ties with Doha, alleging that it supports terrorism.
FIFA indicated on Tuesday that it was in "regular contact" with Qatar about the issue.
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