FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce believes that the organisation should consider re-opening the bidding for the 2022 World Cup, following the claims against Mohamed Bin Hammam in the Sunday Times.
The paper states that Bin Hammam, the former president of the Asian Football Confederation, paid £3million to support Qatar’s successful bid.
Qatar insist that no wrongdoing occurred and Bin Hammam was not working on their behalf, but the Sunday Times claim their leaked documents clearly show that money changed hands.
The bidding process for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are being investigated by American lawyer Michael Garcia and Boyce feels that a new vote should take place if today’s revelations are proved to be accurate.
He told Sky Sports: “I have absolutely no doubt that if there’s concrete evidence supplied by Mr Garcia to FIFA and the Executive Committee it has got to be taken very, very seriously.
“I hope the right decision would be made at that time. I think (a new vote) would have to be a possibility, but…a full investigation is being carried out by Michael Garcia and let’s wait for its developments.”
Former FA Chief Executive Mark Palios added: “Irrespective of whether Qatar were playing a straight bat or not, the issue is this: is the process flawed?
“Did they come to the wrong decision? If this evidence tips the balance and makes people say it’s clear that they’ve come to the wrong decision, then the process is flawed.
“And I think at that particular point in time, in fairness to everybody – which is one of the fundamental principles underlying sport – you have to consider whether or not you’re going to re-run the process.”
