German Football Association Demands Transparency Over 2018 and 2022 World Cup Bids
By BBC News Staff
The German Football Association (DFB) has called for greater transparency regarding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, amid ongoing controversy and speculation. In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published this Thursday, DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach urged FIFA to clarify the circumstances under which the two tournaments were granted to Russia and Qatar respectively.
“We want nothing more than a quick explanation so that all speculation can be put to rest,” Niersbach said. He also appealed for Hans-Joachim Eckert, chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee, to make public the findings of an extensive investigation led by Michael J. Garcia.
Garcia’s probe into the bidding processes spanned over a year and culminated in a 350-page report, which was submitted on 5 September to Eckert. The adjudicatory chamber is expected to review the findings and deliver its conclusions “in a few months.”
The calls from the German federation reflect broader concerns about transparency and governance within FIFA, especially after numerous allegations of corruption related to World Cup bidding procedures have surfaced in recent years.
With football fans, officials, and sponsors all eager to see clarity on the matter, the DFB’s demand for openness adds pressure on FIFA to swiftly address and resolve the controversies clouding the world’s most prestigious football tournament.
Reporting by BBC News.
