Ireland assistant coach to miss Greece double-header due to passport issues
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Munster set to appeal against Alex Nankivell's red card
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, holds the World Cup trophy after the announcement of Qatar hosting the 2022 tournament. Anja Niedringhaus/AP/Press Association Images
Qatargate
France Football claims to have evidence that Qatar 'bought the World Cup'
The magazine says the awarding of football’s most prestigious tournament had ‘a whiff of scandal’ about it.
FRANCE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE has raised questions about FIFA’s awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, alleging it was tainted by corruption and collusion involving top figures in the game.
The weekly publication said in its latest edition published today that the awarding of football’s most prestigious tournament had “a whiff of scandal that begs the only question worth asking: should the vote be declared null and void?”.
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To back up its claims, the magazine, which dubbed the affair “Qatargate”, quoted what it said was an internal email in which FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke allegedly said that the tiny Gulf state had “bought the 2022 World Cup”.
Valcke subsquently claimed a misunderstanding and insisted that the tone of the email was “light-hearted”.
France Football also quoted former FIFA media chief Guido Tognoni, who was kicked out of the organisation in 2003, as saying he believed there were “strong suspicions” that members were compromised over the €33.75 million Qatari bid. Key figures in making Qatar’s case included the now-banned former Asian football chief Mohammed Bin Hammam, FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona of Argentina and Ricardo Teixeira, who quit Brazil’s football federation and FIFA over graft claims.
The magazine also said there was a “secret meeting” at the French presidential palace in Paris on November 23, 2010 — some 10 days before the crucial vote to decide the 2022 competition venue.
Attending were then-president Nicolas Sarkozy, Qatari prince Tamin bin Hamad al-Thani, UEFA president Michel Platini and Sebastien Bazin, representing Paris Saint-Germain owners Colony Capital, who at the time were in financial difficulty.
This is shocking news indeed. Who would have thought that an oil rich middle eastern nation looking to extend its influence in the west and a western, corrupt organisation would climb in to bed together. It’s unthinkable!
I hope this is true and can be proved. Blatter and his idiot bunch of blazers need to be shafted and put out to pasture.
Too many rumours, so many have tried to stand up to Blatter (cant all be sour grapes), so many weird and questionable decisions so many foolish occurrences. Too much smoke!!
Come on France! Sort it out. The Brits seemed to have chickened out.
Talk about sour grapes! They’re completely ignoring Qatars long and illustrious past as a footballing superpower. They finally get to host something they’ve deserved to host since the beginning of the history of football, a beginning in which they were a key player.
Everyone know it was Qatar who invented football so really it’s a homecoming of sorts. Sour grapes France.
Hopefully Paul McShane will have been retired to the knackers yard by then. Nothing would be more embarrassing than him trying to run in hot and humid condition.
An island the size of Leinster and with a population of 1.7 million people gets awarded a World Cup. They’re going to have to build at least 10 huge stadiums and air condition them to stave off the 40 degree heat. What the hell is a population of 1.7 million going to do with 10 giant football stadiums in the after math of the World Cup? Pure madness and corruption.
If this can be proven, something drastic needs to happen. How do you reimburse organisations millions for their failed bids? FIFA stinks to high heaven
It’s totally ironic that a month or so ago they held a conference on global warming attended by various ministers in Qatar. I currently live in the region (family at home) during the months the WC is due to be on its an oven here, the air conditioning units they will need to keep the teams and supporters cool will melt the polar ice caps, should never have been agreed to be there on top of that in most places in Doha you can’t buy booze !
I’m disappointed that England didn’t get the bid. They could host the World Cup or the Euros tomorrow without much renovation needed. After going to the Olympics, it would have been brilliant to see a World Cup match – any match, not necessarily Ireland! The weather and infrastructure wouldn’t have been an issue either… not to mention pesky issues like human rights! Shame that the greed of the likes of Blatter and Platini takes precidence over what’s good for the game.
England weren’t up against them, it was the US and Australia. England failed in their attempt for 2018, which went to Russia.
I think 2022 should’ve gone to Australia (US had it too recently) and 2018 definitely should’ve gone to England. I don’t think African countries are going to be treated with open arms by some of the areas that will host 2018′s tournament in Russia.
I’d well believe it and like most didn’t need a well established football mag to tell me, in saying that, its good to see a leading voice come out and say what we all think. Its no surprise two oil rich countries won the two world cups up for grabs. One being a pro homophobe, alcohol free state and the other being Russia, enough said. Nothing will come of the allegations as FIFA are a governance into themselves, they make their own rules and enforce their own laws, a lot of people get a lot of money this way, why would they want to change it? Easily the most corruptible organisation in the history of sport. The arse will fall out of this circus one day.
As much as I’d like to see our neighbours get it , it won’t be England. It has to be a country from outside Europe because Russia is hosting it in 2018. Australia, Japan or the US would be decent hosts.
Once again its all to do with Moneeeeeeeeee !!! Big snots scratching each others backs I’m not surprised ! Aren’t the old T.D’s doing it here for years ? Blatter and Platini are the scourge of football and its them two diseased excuses for humans who allow corruption and racism to name a few to escalate in football. Hell in a wheel barrow are the words that spring to mind.
I’d say Russia needs looking at as well. I’d love to know the sums of money involved in getting both bids accepted. England, for me, would have been the right choice.
Well it’s pretty obvious that this award was not exactly transparent. They have it to Qatar FFS!! The most mental decision from FIFA and that’s saying something!!
Well surprise surprise!! ….Well not really. Blatter is having a great laugh at everyone.
The reason they put the voting for 2018 and 2022 together was so thought Blatter could get 2 pay days out of it before he retired or got chased out of the job.
It’s just a surprise that he didn’t try and auction off the 2026 and 2030 World Cups aswell.
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This is shocking news indeed. Who would have thought that an oil rich middle eastern nation looking to extend its influence in the west and a western, corrupt organisation would climb in to bed together. It’s unthinkable!
NEWSFLASH!!! Dog bites man
I hope this is true and can be proved. Blatter and his idiot bunch of blazers need to be shafted and put out to pasture.
Too many rumours, so many have tried to stand up to Blatter (cant all be sour grapes), so many weird and questionable decisions so many foolish occurrences. Too much smoke!!
Come on France! Sort it out. The Brits seemed to have chickened out.
Simple reason why uk won’t comment. Qatar is the biggest supplier of cheap gas to the Uk.
I think the FA did kick up a fuss but were accused of sour grapes.
Talk about sour grapes! They’re completely ignoring Qatars long and illustrious past as a footballing superpower. They finally get to host something they’ve deserved to host since the beginning of the history of football, a beginning in which they were a key player.
Everyone know it was Qatar who invented football so really it’s a homecoming of sorts. Sour grapes France.
I just can’t wait to see the irish lads (hopefully) trying to run in the 50 degree heat. Perfect footballing conditions.
Hopefully Paul McShane will have been retired to the knackers yard by then. Nothing would be more embarrassing than him trying to run in hot and humid condition.
John, bad news as it looks like Delaney, Trap and McShame are all signed up till after Qatar! Factor 70 for McShame methinks.
If mcshane is in the team I don’t think we will have to worry about making it to the World Cup in the first place lol
Let henry handle it.
Nice one!
An island the size of Leinster and with a population of 1.7 million people gets awarded a World Cup. They’re going to have to build at least 10 huge stadiums and air condition them to stave off the 40 degree heat. What the hell is a population of 1.7 million going to do with 10 giant football stadiums in the after math of the World Cup? Pure madness and corruption.
There an is dismantle them and send them to Africa for building.
You need to look at a map Qatar is not an island!
If this can be proven, something drastic needs to happen. How do you reimburse organisations millions for their failed bids? FIFA stinks to high heaven
France football have an excellent reputation. I would tend to believe it if they brought the evidence forward
It’s totally ironic that a month or so ago they held a conference on global warming attended by various ministers in Qatar. I currently live in the region (family at home) during the months the WC is due to be on its an oven here, the air conditioning units they will need to keep the teams and supporters cool will melt the polar ice caps, should never have been agreed to be there on top of that in most places in Doha you can’t buy booze !
I’m disappointed that England didn’t get the bid. They could host the World Cup or the Euros tomorrow without much renovation needed. After going to the Olympics, it would have been brilliant to see a World Cup match – any match, not necessarily Ireland! The weather and infrastructure wouldn’t have been an issue either… not to mention pesky issues like human rights! Shame that the greed of the likes of Blatter and Platini takes precidence over what’s good for the game.
England weren’t up against them, it was the US and Australia. England failed in their attempt for 2018, which went to Russia.
I think 2022 should’ve gone to Australia (US had it too recently) and 2018 definitely should’ve gone to England. I don’t think African countries are going to be treated with open arms by some of the areas that will host 2018′s tournament in Russia.
I’d well believe it and like most didn’t need a well established football mag to tell me, in saying that, its good to see a leading voice come out and say what we all think. Its no surprise two oil rich countries won the two world cups up for grabs. One being a pro homophobe, alcohol free state and the other being Russia, enough said. Nothing will come of the allegations as FIFA are a governance into themselves, they make their own rules and enforce their own laws, a lot of people get a lot of money this way, why would they want to change it? Easily the most corruptible organisation in the history of sport. The arse will fall out of this circus one day.
They are also ready that allegedly “The Pope is Catholic”. Didn’t everybody already know this?
most people were suspicious, the magazine claim they have concrete evidence
Wait for next week’s shocking expose about the defecation habits of bears!
FIFA stinks, and Platini deals in the sort of ‘brown envelopes’ that would make Bertie and Biffo weak at the knees. Was the Sahara not available?
Wait till the british tabloids get a hold of this. Ha ha. Field day.
fifa are worse than the bankers over here
If proven, the World Cup should be taken off them. There’s plenty off time for another country to host it.
England could be up and running no time – and we could get to a lot of matches!
As much as I’d like to see our neighbours get it , it won’t be England. It has to be a country from outside Europe because Russia is hosting it in 2018. Australia, Japan or the US would be decent hosts.
Once again its all to do with Moneeeeeeeeee !!! Big snots scratching each others backs I’m not surprised ! Aren’t the old T.D’s doing it here for years ? Blatter and Platini are the scourge of football and its them two diseased excuses for humans who allow corruption and racism to name a few to escalate in football. Hell in a wheel barrow are the words that spring to mind.
I’d say Russia needs looking at as well. I’d love to know the sums of money involved in getting both bids accepted. England, for me, would have been the right choice.
Quelle surprise!!!!
This is just shocking news, simply shocking. I would have never believed it of FIFA!
Presumed this was always the case in how a country got chosen.. I guess Qatar had deeper pockets then the others this time..
Well it’s pretty obvious that this award was not exactly transparent. They have it to Qatar FFS!! The most mental decision from FIFA and that’s saying something!!
Well surprise surprise!! ….Well not really. Blatter is having a great laugh at everyone.
The reason they put the voting for 2018 and 2022 together was so thought Blatter could get 2 pay days out of it before he retired or got chased out of the job.
It’s just a surprise that he didn’t try and auction off the 2026 and 2030 World Cups aswell.
Damn it, I know whats wrong, FIFA used James Reilly’s selection algorithm for primary care centres!
The French must have just got round watching that panorama special on catch up.
Bribes buying international tournaments? Colour me shocked!
NEWSFLASH . . . . .and the dog died.
Nothing will happen because quatar is oil rich and the west needs it pure and simple