MARRAKECH: FIFA President Sepp Blatter opened a meeting of his 25-member executive committee yesterday amid a storm of controversy over an inquiry into the bids by Russia and Qatar for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
With a vote on the FIFA leadership looming next year, football’s governing body has been stung by the resignation of its leading investigator, top US lawyer Michael Garcia, over the handling of his report.
European media said a vote may be held today on a proposal to publish the report, but Blatter has insisted so far that it cannot be published for legal reasons.
He had also said the report would be at the centre of a two-day executive meeting in Marrakech, although no details of the agenda have been provided.
Garcia quit as head of investigation chamber on Wednesday, hitting out at the “lack of leadership” by FIFA over the inquiry into the two bids.
Qatar has strongly denied any wrongdoing in its successful campaign for the 2022 World Cup.
In his resignation statement, Garcia said he had found “serious and wide-ranging issues” in the bid processes for both tournaments.
He resigned in protest at the summary of his report released by FIFA judge Hans-Joachim Eckert who had said no corruption was found and that no new votes were necessary.
FIFA rejected Garcia’s appeal against the summary yesterday, declaring it “not admissible”.
Agencies
