2022 World Cup – FIFA Back Under Fire Amid New Corruption Allegations
Just days after FIFA declared itself cleared by its own ethics committee regarding the controversial awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, the global football body is once again engulfed in fresh scandal. A damning report by the Sunday Times has reignited the debate, with Mohammed Bin Hammam, the disgraced former FIFA executive, at the center of new corruption accusations.
Key Allegations:
Mohammed Bin Hammam, a key figure in Qatar’s World Cup bid and former AFC president, is alleged to have bribed numerous officials to secure votes for Qatar.
The Sunday Times claims it holds extensive documentation and evidence proving financial irregularities and unethical lobbying tied to Qatar’s successful bid.
The report reopens suspicions surrounding several high-profile football officials, including:
Issa Hayatou, long-time CAF president
Michel Platini, former UEFA boss
Jacques Anouma, ex-head of the Ivorian Football Federation
These figures had previously been linked to voting controversies and alleged influence peddling.
Background:
Qatar’s awarding of the 2022 tournament has been marred by controversy from the beginning, including:
Allegations of human rights abuses against migrant workers
Climate concerns that led to moving the World Cup to winter
A broader probe into corruption within FIFA, especially under Sepp Blatter’s long presidency
The Garcia Report, an internal FIFA ethics investigation completed earlier, was heavily criticized for lack of transparency and perceived bias. While FIFA’s own ethics judge claimed there was no wrongdoing significant enough to overturn the result, Garcia himself later publicly disagreed with that conclusion.
What Now?
With the credibility of FIFA once again under question, the organization faces renewed calls—from both fans and officials across the football world—for:
Full publication of all investigative findings
Independent judicial inquiries
Possible reconsideration of Qatar’s right to host, though that remains politically and logistically unlikely
The scandal continues to tarnish not only the 2022 World Cup’s legacy but also the already fragile public trust in FIFA’s governance. Whether this new wave of revelations will lead to meaningful reform or further entrenchment remains to be seen.
