Qatar denies bribery allegations over 2022 World Cup vote amid fresh claims
Doha, 16 May 2025
Qatar has strongly denied allegations that it bribed senior FIFA officials to secure votes for its successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
The claims resurfaced on Sunday after The Sunday Times published the results of an extensive investigation, presenting what it described as highly incriminating evidence implicating Gulf oil money in influencing the FIFA vote.
In response, the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee issued a firm statement rejecting the accusations. “Following today’s press reports, we vehemently deny all allegations of misconduct,” the committee said.
The controversy once again puts the spotlight on FIFA’s bidding processes and raises questions about the integrity of the decision that awarded Qatar the prestigious tournament.
FIFA has yet to comment on the latest revelations.
