Greg Dyke doubts Qatar hosting 2022 World Cup

FA chairman Greg Dyke believes significant doubt remains over whether Qatar will actually host the 2022 World Cup, five years on from what he calls “the worst moment in Fifa’s history”.
Greg Dyke believes significant doubt remains over whether Qatar will actually host the 2022 World Cup. Picture: PAGreg Dyke believes significant doubt remains over whether Qatar will actually host the 2022 World Cup. Picture: PA
Greg Dyke believes significant doubt remains over whether Qatar will actually host the 2022 World Cup. Picture: PA

The vote by Fifa’s executive committee on 2 December 2010 awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar. Since then there have been accusations that Fifa members were paid or given incentives to vote for Qatar, and earlier this year the Swiss attorney general launched an investigation into the bidding process.

The investigation is looking at over 120 “suspicious activity reports” linked to Fifa’s decision to award the tournaments to Russia and Qatar. Both countries strongly deny any wrongdoing.

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Dyke said: “The truth is that I suspect it was the worst moment in Fifa’s history and that it will be living with the consequences for at least another seven years.

“If the Swiss criminal investigation demonstrates that there was corruption then there still has to be doubt about whether the World Cup will be in Qatar. I personally still don’t think it is certain. If the investigations demonstrate there were financial irregularities then a lot of people will be pushing for the 2022 World Cup to be re-bid.”

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