FIFA’s Ethics Committee has cleared Qatar of any wrongdoing in its bid to secure the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but has slammed Australia’s unethical process at the same time.
Former United States attorney Michael Garcia, who led the investigation into the bidding process for the next two World Cups, claims Australia used taxpayer money to bribe FIFA judges and other dirty tricks in its failed $46 million World Cup bid.
The Ethics Committee’s report also claims that Australia tried to cover up its attempts and that the nation’s governing body, Football Federation Australia, was aware of the tactics.
The FFA declined to comment on the issue, saying it will be contacting the committee and fully reviewing the report before it makes a comment.
“In an interim response to the statement, FFA says it will seek advice from the FIFA Ethics Committee on the next steps in the process,” an FFA statement read.
“FFA notes that the Australian bid team co-operated fully with the inquiry and provided transparency on the conduct of the bid.
“FFA will now fully review the statement and its findings before making any further comment.”
Australia wasn’t the only country to be targeted in the report for wrongdoing.
England was also accused of trying to get former FIFA vice president Jack Warner onside with their application, something the country’s governing body denied.