FIFA: Is Qatar 2022 Doomed?

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014

Since Qatar was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup back in 2010, the host country has been surrounded by controversy. Shocking reports emerged yesterday that former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner had received millions of dollars from a company controlled by a former Qatari football official. The money was apparently transferred shortly after Qatar won the bid for the 2022 World Cup.

Mr Warner served as vice president for FIFA for a period of 14 years before stepping down in 2011 – coinciding with receiving payments from the Qatari organisation Kemko owned by Qatar FIFA executive, Mohammed Bin Hammam. A document from Mr Warner – dated two weeks after Qatar won the World Cup bid in 2010 – requested payment for services carried out between 2005 and 2010 from the Qatari company.

Mr Warner was paid $1.2 million – and his two sons and an employee also received additional payments totalling $1 million. The FBI are currently in the process of investigating the payments to see if there is any foul play or if the payments are legitimate legal expenses, as claimed in the document between Mr Warner and Bin Hammam.

Jack Warner was one of a committee of 22 who decided on which country won the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids – which went to Russia and Qatar respectively. The decision was made via secret ballot on the 2nd December 2010 in Zurich. The committee, normally made up of 24 members, was already surrounded by controversy at this point after two officials were caught offering to sell their vote for large sums of cash. The two committee members involved were suspended prior to the 2010 vote. This raises the question, did Qatar “buy” the 2022 World Cup?

Qatar’s winning of the World Cup bid has perhaps been one of the most controversial decisions in sporting history. Numerous concerns have been raised about Qatar’s ability to host such a large sporting event.

FIFA are faced with the prospect of the World Cup being moved into winter for the first time in its history, due to the intense summer heat in Qatar. Temperatures in Qatar regularly reach 50 degrees in mid-summer, with huge implications on player performance and the safety of the fans crowded into large venues. The decision to move the 2022 World Cup finals to the winter season has been shelved for the time being. Moving the event to winter could have a negative impact on European football, as the World Cup would clash with other major sporting events at this time of year.

Fans and human rights organisations have raised the issue of LGBT equality in Qatar. Notoriously associated with homophobic behaviour in the past, football has been under pressure in recent years to be more inclusive and promote equality amongst its players and fans. Numerous sources have criticised FIFA for proceeding to host this supposedly international and inclusive event in Qatar, where homosexual activity is still illegal and punishable by a lengthy prison sentence. The law in Qatar does not recognise LGBT rights and there is no protection for citizens and visitors against homophobic attacks.

Concerns have also been raised over the horrific working conditions faced by migrant labourers in Qatar. Reports have emerged of workers being forced to work in extreme heat, while having their passports confiscated and salaries withheld. Qatari World Cup officials have pledged to improve working conditions in the country – however, significant evidence of this is yet to be seen.

In February this year, FIFA board member Theo Zwanziger has dismissed talk of FIFA’s ability to withdraw the World Cup from Qatar and has highlighted that “FIFA is not the lawmaker in Qatar”, implying that FIFA has little responsibility in the issues faced in Qatar. This is despite numerous public calls for FIFA to acknowledge its responsibility and respond to the unacceptable human rights conditions.

It is clear that FIFA stands to make a lot of money from Qatar 2022 – the oil rich country is investing huge amounts into the World Cup. The evidence suggesting that Qatar allegedly bought the bid for the World Cup is building, however definitive proof has yet to be found.

More scandal is likely to surface in the coming years, as momentum builds towards Qatar 2022. Time will tell whether FIFA will acknowledge the issues faced in Qatar and take action towards reviewing their winning World Cup bid.

In the meantime, momentum is building for the 2014 Brazil World Cup – surrounded by its own controversy. Kicking off in June this year, fan enthusiasm and excitement are at an all time high as the countdown continues. Join in the football festivities by organising a sweepstake through Panda Sweeps.

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