Published : Dec. 21, 2014 - 19:23
FIFA president Sepp Blatter. (AP-Yonhap)
MARRAKECH, Morocco (AFP) ― FIFA will release an “appropriate” version of a report into alleged corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups but president Sepp Blatter on Friday ruled out moving the tournaments from Russia and Qatar.
The wealthy Gulf state of Qatar has faced a storm of controversy over its successful bid for the 2022 tournament.
But Blatter said: “It would really need an earthquake, extremely important new elements to go back on this World Cup in Qatar.”
The president of football’s ruling body sought to silence a growing number of critics after the FIFA executive unanimously voted to release an edited version of a report drawn up by top U.S. lawyer Michael Garcia.
Garcia resigned on Wednesday as FIFA’s top corruption investigator in protest at the body’s handling of his report.
A FIFA summary released last month said no corruption had been found.
Garcia has strongly attacked the summary prepared by FIFA’s most senior judge and said he had found “serious and wide-ranging issues” in the bidding for the two World Cups.
Blatter acknowledged the critics when he said Garcia’s report will be released once proceedings against individuals named in the document are completed.
The published report will probably have the names of witnesses who gave evidence to Garcia taken out.
Blatter said the FIFA executive agreed unanimously at a meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, “to publish the report in an appropriate form once the ongoing procedures against individuals are concluded. I am pleased they have agreed.”
The names of officials facing action have not been released but European media have named them as Angel Villar Llona of Spain, Michel D’Hooghe of Belgium and Worawi Makudi of Thailand.
“It has been a long process to arrive at this point and I understand the views of those who have been critical,” Blatter said.
“The publication of this report has become a barrier to rebuilding public confidence and trust in FIFA,” he added.