By DAN KARELL
One of the whistleblowers identified in Hans-Joachim Eckert’s summary of Michael Garcia’s FIFA ethics report has produced some more scathing allegations.
Former Qatar 2022 communications director Phaedra Almajid alleged in an interview with France Football that the Qatari bid team offered in excess of $1 million in exchange for “support” ahead of the World Cup bid vote.
Almajid, who since she was outed now claims she fears for her safety, states that at the 2010 CAF congress in Luanda, Angola, she witnessed three separate occasions where high-ranking African soccer officials were offered large gifts to their federation. On one occasion, Almajid recounts that an African official asked for “a million and a half,” to which the Qatari official said “he hoped he could count on his support.”
Almajid did not, however, witness money changing hands.
Qatar has continued to deny it broke any rules or acted in any unethical way during the World Cup bidding process. The controversial ethics report into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids cleared both Russia and Qatar of wrongdoing, though Garcia has appealed to release the full report, after disagreeing with Eckert’s summary.
Here are some more stories to start off your Tuesday:
PLATINI HOPES FOR A THIRD CANDIDATE
Michel Platini’s patience with FIFA president Sepp Blatter has run out.
Speaking on French radio station “Europe 1,” Platini claimed that FIFA needs a change in leadership at the top and said he wished Blatter would stand down from his presidency campaign.
“I supported him in 1998 because I think he was the right person at the time but after five (sic) terms it is time to let some fresh air in and leave the place to someone else,” Platini said. “The image of FIFA is very, very, very bad so that’s why I think it would be good that he (Blatter) stops, but I don’t think he wants to.”
Platini stated that he wouldn’t support either Blatter or his opponent, Jerome Champagne. “I hope others will run,” Platini said.
Platini is currently the president of UEFA and a FIFA vice president.
LIGA MX PRESIDENT CONSIDERING INVITING MLS TEAMS TO COPA MX
Decio De Maria is contemplating expanding Mexico’s struggling cup competition.
The Copa MX, which runs in each of Mexico’s Apertura and Clausura seasons, could be expanding to the USA and include MLS clubs, according to De Maria, though he stated that this idea is “in its infancy.”
“What we’ve started to evaluate is a bi-national concept (cup competition) with our partners in MLS,” De Maria said in a press conference. “It’s a possibility, a good project to develop. It would be for 2016 if it is confirmed.”
QUICK KICKS
The LFP are set to charge Barcelona after their fans shouted insults at Espanyol players and fans during the recent derby. (REPORT)
Cruzeiro have rejected a €13 million transfer bid from Real Madrid for midfielder Lucas Silva, wanting a minimum of €15 million. (REPORT)
Arsenal are looking into signing AS Monaco left back Layvin Kurzawa, who is rated as worth £15 million. (REPORT)
Bayern Munich centerback Holger Badstuber is back in full training after a thigh injury has sidelined him for the past three months. (REPORT)
Serie A cellar dwellars Parma have been docked one point and fined €5,000 for financial irregularities last season. (REPORT)
Sao Paulo legend, goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, is contemplating retirement next year, and it will depend on the club’s results in the Copa Libertadores. (REPORT)
—————
What do you think of these reports? Think that FIFA should take action on Qatar based on the latest allegations? Do you see Platini leaving FIFA in the future? Do you feel the LFP is going overboard with their stand against chants?
Share your thoughts below.
It will take collusion amongst member associations to get rid of Blatter. Everyone wants something. It’s not just FIFA leadership who are corrupt. England could potentially offer a clean up candidate but what will others want to get in line?
i’ll take any new reports slamming FIFA even if the news isn’t surprising. even though Platini is kind of lame himself, i’m all for people with weight telling Blatter to leave.
as for the Copa MX idea, i’m into it. granted, i want to know specifics, but i like the sound of it. given CCL teams would likely not participate, this would basically create a “Europa League” type competition. of course, it’s only Mexico and USA teams, not all of CONCACAF, and Copa MX includes Ascenso MX teams. so it’s not a perfect analogy but it could very well end up being a good analogy since they are in the infancy of the idea. i’m not sure what Mexican fans would think about removing Ascenso MX teams though.
i’ll take any new reports bashing FIFA even if the news isn’t surprising. even though Platini is kind of a d-bag himself, i’m all for people with weight telling Blatter to leave.
as for the Copa MX idea, i’m into it. granted, i want to know specifics, but i like the sound of it. given CCL teams would likely not participate, this would basically create a “Europa League” type competition. of course, it’s only Mexico and USA teams, not all of CONCACAF, and Copa MX includes Ascenso MX teams. so it’s not a perfect analogy but it could very well end up being a good analogy since they are in the infancy of the idea. i’m not sure what Mexican fans would think about removing Ascenso MX teams though.
What!? FIFA is corrupt!? When did this happen!?
This is like watching a crime drama on TV. Turn the screws and wait for one of the conspirators to start singing. This could get very interesting.
The coolest part about MLS in Copa MX idea, is the potential path to Copa Libertadores. Right now, the winner of the Copa MX Apertura and Copa MX Clausura play each other in what’s called the Supercopa MX, to determine Mexico’s last spot in Copa Libertadores. If that system is kept, then MLS could potentially qualify.
Also, the MLS teams in CCL probably wouldn’t play. Mexican teams in CCL already don’t play in Copa MX.
I didn’t realize that CCL teams don’t play in Copa MX. That’s a good way to avoid schedule congestion, but perhaps that’s one of the reasons the competition is “struggling”. I like the idea, but I’m having flash backs to the SuperLiga.
It sounds like you have a negative image of the Superliga tournament. I seem to recall that every single one of those games were excellent over I believe three seasons they played. I still remember the LA / Pacifica final. Even watching on tv you could feel how electric the stadium was…
I liked the Superliga too. I think doing something like that makes more sense than MLS joining their league cup tournament. It sounds like Liga MX just has too many playoffs, with both seasons ending that way.
Travel is already a big problem, I don’t see how this would work.
i heard that Campean want to integrate MLS teams into copa mx. any one else heard about this too?
Did you even read the article?
COPA MX idea sounds cool. More competition and exposure for MLS. Hopefully money as well.
Yes, it really does sound interesting. And possibly lucrative, unlike the USOC, which hardly anyone knows exists, let alone actually watches. America or Chivas playing in LA or New York would be a massive spectacle. Please make it happen, FMF and US Soccer!
+1 Absolutely. Come to think of it, I’m surprised we haven’t heard this idea before. Lots of potential.
This sounds like Superliga. I think Mex Federation is fishing the idea of a Copa Rio Grande or North American cup where Copa MX and US Open cup merge. The problem with this is that one is nearly a 100 years old and the other is about 2 years old. While its true that neither are watched, that doesn’t mean that US soccer fed will just throw out that 100 yr tradition. I think the best international club tournament possible, and one that maximizes MLS exposure is to have Conmebol tank the Copa Sudamericana and replace it with a revived Copa Merconorte. This was essential a S. American tournament involving 5 countries. In the new version, it would be Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, plus 6 invites total from Liga Mx and MLS. The final 4 would move onto to face final 4 of Copa Mercosur. Copa lib won’t happen, its just too far to travel at the group stage.
all ready to many games for the limited number of players and salary
If FIFA wants to awards WCs to the country that gives it the most bribe money that is their business. They are a private company that produces soccer games. They are not beholden to any ethics or transparency codes. They are not elected and they can make whatever rules they want regarding their selection process.
Whether member countries and sponsors want to be a part of that is another story.
It sounds a lot like MLS.
LOL. Get ready for the hate.
I agree, we can always choose not to watch the WC or buy the video games.
The problem is they’re not a private company. They are a non-profit. I’m not sure what regulations this entails at an international level, but if they were a non profit in the US, this would absolutely be criminal.
Really, they are a private company by any meaningful standard.
Switzerland allows them non-profit status, which is a nice source of tax breaks for them but the Swiss disclosure requirements are laughable. No public financials, salary discosures, periodic reporting…. nothing that can even be compared to a non-profit in the U.S.
Agree with your points, but let’s be real. FIFA does not produce video games any more than John Madden does. The EA Sports games are just one of many sources of licensing fees for these piggies.
FIFA ISNT GETTING THE BRIBE MONEY, BOARD MEMBERS ARE, PERSONALLY.
FRANK has a brother…?