Australia's $50 million bid for 2022 world cup under investigation by FIFA
All eyes might be on the 2010 FIFA South Africa World Cup, currently under way in the quarter final stage, but it seems as though FIFA is going to be keeping a closer watch on the bidding process for the 2022 World Cup, which Australia wants to host.
On Wednesday, the Sydney Morning Herald, an Australian newspaper, reported that the wife of FIFA's vice-president Jack Warner, was given a pearl necklace by the Football Federation of Australia after her husband mentioned she hadn't been given one over a year earlier, unlike the wives of other FIFA officials.
On Wednesday FIFA confirmed reports that it was leading an investigation into the matter to ensure no inappropriate action had been taken. ''FIFA can confirm that it is looking into this matter. For the time being, Fifa cannot disclose any other details or make any further comment," the international soccer body said in a statement.
''Mrs Warner was presented with a pearl necklace in 2009 because she was not present at the 2008 function at which other FIFA dignitaries received a Paspaley pearl pendant ... this gift was entirely within FIFA guidelines,'' the FFA told the Morning Herald. They further released a statement: "Football Federation Australia has acted in accordance with FIFA guidelines in respect to its bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup," said Bill Buckley. FIFA rules allow for some very small gifts that are symbolic in nature and cannot be directly related to the bid itself.
Jack Warner's shady past
Warner currently sits as head of the CONCACAF confederation, controlling three votes to determine the World Cup. He has already stated that these votes will go to the United States, which is part of the CONCACAF federation in their bid to host their country's first World Cup since 1994.
This isn't the first time controversy has surrounded Warner. In 2006 it was found his family's travel company, Simpaul, had been reselling World Cup tickets and had made over a million dollars by doing so. In 2007 FIFA documents showed that he had been ordered to donate the profits to charity.
Additionally, a similar situation occurred with the London 2018 bid, with London's bid leaders having given out two dozen designer handbags to FIFA officials' wives, including Warner. Those officials were eventually asked to once again return those bags, worth $435 dollars each. The pearl necklace given to Warner's wife is reportedly worth closer to $2000.
Additionally, Trinidad and Tobago, which is Warner's home country, had their entire under-20 team flown to Cyprus last year, all paid for by the FFA. Warner has also been accused of extorting funds from his country's national soccer organization, asking that funds be made out in his name and not to the organization when the team visited Scotland in 2004. Lastly many questioned his impartiality when he insulted England repeatedly while considering the 2018 London bid.
Incidents such as these have caused some to call into question the legitimacy of the bid project, and whether it has not become more of an exercise in back-room politics and currying favour rather than determining which country is most worthy and most suitable to host the world's largest soccer event.
Australia's $50 million bid
Australia's taxpayers are paying a whopping $46 million for the bid, which has drawn criticism from many, including Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who warned that Australia could slip into the habit of "greasing palms," or conducting bribery in order to hold the coveted tournament.
The money given out also concludes up to $11.37 million going to Fedor Radmann and Peter Hargitay should they successfully manage to complete the bid successfully.
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