The latest allegations that payments were made to FIFA officials by Mohamed Bin Hammam, in return for their support for the Qatar 2022 World Cup bid, are further cause for grave concern.
If true, these allegations amount to a clear breach of FIFA rules which state that countries bidding to host the World Cup must not make
"i) any monetary gifts"
or give
"ii) any kind of personal advantage that could give even the impression of exerting influence"
For nearly four years FIFA has been blighted with allegations of corruption which have led to the resignations of some of the most senior people in world football. FIFA have seemed totally incapable of dealing with these serious allegations in an open and transparent way.
We are asking for members of parliament, from any country which is a member of the FIFA council to join our call for FIFA to immediately investigate these new allegations and to state that they will re-run the bidding process for the 2022 World Cup if corrupt payments were made to officials in return for their votes. Parliamentarians can add their name to this list by emailing me at damian@damiancollins.com
Damian Collins MP, England
Jim Sheridan MP, Scotland
Alun Cairns MP, Wales
Ian Paisley MP, Northern Ireland
Lord Finkelstein, England
Adrian Sanders MP, England
Lord Triesman, former Chairman of the Football Association, England
John Whittingdale MP, Chairman Select Cttee for Culture, Media and Sport, England
Gerry Sutcliffe MP, former Sports Minister, England
Emma McClarkin MEP, European Parliament, England
Clive Betts MP, Chair All Party Parliamentary Football Group, England
Paul Farrelly MP, England