FIFA’s Ethics Committee appears to be nearing a crucial decision regarding the controversial awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, hosted by Russia and Qatar, respectively.
According to a statement published on FIFA’s official website, Hans-Joachim Eckert, chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee, revealed that a first public declaration on the matter could be made as early as November. He and Alan Sullivan, the other adjudicator, are currently analyzing the investigative report submitted by the investigatory chamber, which examined the bidding processes.
“As already mentioned, the adjudicatory chamber… is currently evaluating the report… We will likely make a first public statement on this general report at the beginning of November,” Eckert stated.
The announcement suggests that a long-awaited update on one of the most controversial chapters in recent football history is imminent. Since the awarding of the tournaments, allegations of corruption and vote-buying have plagued FIFA and prompted worldwide scrutiny. While both host nations have denied wrongdoing, critics have demanded transparency and accountability in the bidding process.
Before issuing any verdict or recommendations, Eckert emphasized the importance of reviewing “all procedural details” thoroughly and mentioned the possibility of requesting additional clarifications if needed.
This development could have major implications, not only for FIFA’s credibility but potentially for future World Cup bidding processes and how hosts are selected going forward.
