FIFA lodges complaint over suspected illegal World Cup bidding activities

FIFA president Sepp Blatter

A criminal complaint has been lodged by Fifa with the Swiss attorney-general after its anti-corruption unit found unearthed misconduct, on investigation, in the bidding process of the 2018 and 2022 World cups.

A summarised version of the 430-page report of chief investigator Michael Garcia was released by Ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert last week. The judge further ruled out any major misconduct on the part of Russia and Qatar and asked Fifa president Sepp Blatter to take up the issue to Swiss attorney general.

“During my analysis of the report from the chairman and deputy chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Fifa Ethics Committee, I came across indications that pointed to suspected unlawful activity in connection with Switzerland.

In the circumstances, I saw it as my duty to bring this to the Fifa president’s attention and to recommend to him that the Swiss criminal prosecution authorities be informed,” Eckert told Fifa.com.

Lodged complaint on the judge’s advice: Blatter

President Blatter said that a complaint had been lodged, on the advice of the judge.

“I lodged the criminal complaint upon the recommendation of Judge Eckert,” the 78-year-old said. “

I cannot, however, comment on any possible criminal offences. I am not a lawyer. I also was not the addressee of the investigatory report, which I have never seen. However, given Judge Eckert’s recommendation, it was my duty – as the President of Fifa – to lodge the complaint.”

Football’s governing body has come in for widespread criticism for not publishing the report in totality and only giving out an summarised version of it. In response to that, Blatter said that the organisation is in no moral position to do so.

“Once again, we have examined this matter very, very carefully from a legal point of view,” he continued.

“The result was clear: if Fifa were to publish the report, we would be violating our own association law as well as state law. The people who are demanding in the media and elsewhere that Fifa publish the report are obviously of the opinion that Fifa should or must ignore the law in this regard.

We obviously cannot do that. Fifa’s headquarters are in a constitutional state, and we therefore have to abide by the country’s laws.” he added.

Quick Links

Edited by Staff Editor