By RYAN TOLMICH
FIFA is set to allow more eyes on the controversial report regarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Thursday’s statement from the chairman of FIFA’s adjudicatory chamber, Hans-Joachim Eckert, and Michael Garcia, who commissioned the report, revealed that the findings would be available to the organization’s Audit and Compliance Committee, and potentially even the Executive Committee.
“Both chairmen agreed that it is of major importance that the FIFA Executive Committee has the information necessary to evaluate which steps are required based on the work done by the FIFA Ethics Committee,” the statement said. In order to achieve this, the chairman of the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee will receive full copies of all reports of the investigatory chamber to fulfill his fiduciary and statutory duties and to determine how much of that information should be made available to the FIFA Executive Committee. He then shall take the steps necessary to do so.
“The chairmen also offered to answer any questions the chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee and the Executive Committee might have.”
Here are some more of Friday’s news and notes:
WENGER REVEALS ARSENAL’S PRIOR PURSUIT OF MESSI, PIQUE
Midfielder Cesc Fabregas brought a Barcelona style of play to Arsenal from 2003-2011, but the Spanish star wouldn’t have been the only Barca product to feature for the Gunners if manager Arsene Wenger had his way.
The Arsenal manager revealed on Friday that the club pursued both Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique along with Fabregas, but the pursuit for the Argentine at least partially fell through when Arsenal failed to secure accommodations for Messi’s family.
“I think in the end, he was not so keen to move, because it was at a period where Fabregas came, and Fabregas and Messi played together in the same team,” Wenger said. “We wanted to take Fabregas, Messi and Piqué. It worked only for Fabregas.
“It was not completely down to a flat in the end. It was down to the fact that, in the end, Messi was comfortable at Barcelona.”
MOYES QUESTIONS MANCHESTER UNITED’S SALE OF WELBECK
David Moyes made his fair share of mistakes during his tenure at Manchester United, but the current Real Sociedad manager insists that selling Danny Welbeck wouldn’t have ben one of them.
Moyes questioned the club’s sale of Welbeck to Arsenal, although the former Man United and Everton manager believes that the forward’s move was good for the player.
“You make your own decisions,” Moyes said regarding the move. Every manager is entitled to their own opinion, but it wouldn’t necessarily be mine.
“The hardest thing Danny had to deal with is he had Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney in front of him,” Moyes continued. “So, from that point of view, he had to dislodge those players to get into the side and it was always going to be hard for him to do that. It’s been a really good move for Danny [to Arsenal]. He’s a really good lad and player, maybe it will help him. He’s gone away, he’s scoring for England as well and I think he’s getting more respect for what he’s doing.”
QUICK KICKS
Liverpool is set to launch a medical investigation into the injury woes of Daniel Sturridge. (REPORT)
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has rejected an apology from Dave Whelan following the Wigan owner’s anti-Semitic comments. (REPORT)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that Radamel Falcao is still two weeks away from making his return from injury. (REPORT)
Swiss third division side Grenchen has released 11 of its players following a humiliating 1-0 defeat to a youth team. (REPORT)
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What do you think of FIFA’s response regarding the report? How would Messi have fared at Arsenal? How do you see Welbeck developing in the coming years?
Share your thoughts below.