By Andrew Warshaw
October 23 – The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has spiralled out of control tonight after further dramatic revelations in the Sunday Times that named Spain/Portugal and Qatar as allegedly agreeing to trade block votes and quoted a former FIFA boss as saying he knew the names of officials who were willing to take bribes.
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Football’s world governing body has ordered the nine contenders bidding to stage the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 not to make contact with the two suspended Executive Committee members while they are under investigation for alleged bribery.
Another weekend approaches. All eyes in this turbulent 2018-22 World Cup bidding war will soon be turning again towards the Sunday Times.
After Wednesday’s dramatic media conference, complete with an appearance by the FIFA President himself, it seems to me this could now go one of three ways.
Scenario Number One: the well-resourced London newspaper unleashes its second volley; more FIFA Executive Committee members are embarrassed/forced to try and defend themselves;
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Amos Adamu (pictured), the Nigerian official provisionally suspended by FIFA over bribery allegations, broke his silence today by insisting he had done nothing wrong.
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 21 – The bid teams of Spain/Portugal and Qatar imposed a total news blackout today as reports named them as the countries being investigated by FIFA as part of the explosive 2018 and 2022 World Cup corruption scandal.
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 – The two high-ranking FIFA officials at the heart of the World Cup cash-for-votes scandal were sensationally suspended today following allegations of corruption within football’s world governing body.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 - After decades of fierce debate, goal-line technology moved a vital step forward today when football’s lawmakers finally gave the green light to re-consider the issue.
I can still see the look of bemusement on the Brazilian journalist’s face.
It was in London a few years ago – in one of those expensive hotels along Park Lane.
Joseph Blatter, the FIFA President, had just explained the process by which the laws of football can be changed.
“So you mean to say,” the Brazilian journalist asked, still struggling evidently to grasp the enormity of what had been imparted,
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – The head of Russia’s 2018 World Cup bid has sought to distance himself from western press reports quoting him as denigrating aspects of society in England – Russia’s main rivals for 2018 – insisting he was misinterpreted.
October 19 - Sole bidder Australia will find out on January 6 whether it has won the right to host Asia’s premier football competition, the AFC Asian Cup 2015.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has cancelled a visit to tomorrow’s goal-line technology meeting in order to deal with the World Cup corruption crisis at home in Zurich.
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The Sunday Times exposé has exploded like a cannonball off the port bow of the good ship FIFA.
The allegations already spread across three broadsheet pages are damaging enough - although not everyone will have been surprised that the headline “World Cup votes for sale” should have appeared at some point in the campaign.
But there was the suggestion in yesterday evening’s FIFA statement that more unwelcome disclosures might be in store.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – One of the two senior FIFA officials at the centre of the World Cup cash-for-votes scandal insists he is totally innocent and is determined to clear his name.
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – Russia could be the latest country to face accusations of breaking FIFA’s strict code of ethics in the latest row to undermine bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – At least two of the nine bidding candidates for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup were sensationally placed under formal examination for alleged collusion today as the cash-for-votes probe intensified.