The FBI's investigation of FIFA "includes scrutiny of how the organization awarded" the '18 World Cup to Russia and the '22 competition to Qatar, according to a source cited by Mark Hosenball of REUTERS. The source said that the "review of the awards to host the tournament would be part" of the U.S. probe into FIFA (REUTERS, 6/3). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jones & Parasie report FIFA President Sepp Blatter's decision to step down, "amid a spending spree on stadiums, roads, rail and real estate, has sparked speculation about the economic hit the loss of the World Cup would bring" to Qatar. Dubai-based economist Giyas Gokkent said, "A potential change in venue would be a setback for Qatar's economy." Qatar yesterday said that the "recent developments wouldn’t affect its preparations." Jones & Parasie note it "currently has five stadiums under construction." Most "costly for Qatar should it lose the World Cup could be the one million tourists forecast to descend on the tiny country." Meanwhile, Russia President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the country's preparations to host "were continuing" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/4). REUTERS' Nick Mulvenney noted Qatar organizers "have indicated they will not relinquish the right to host" the event "easily" (REUTERS, 6/3).
NOTHING TO SEE HERE: CBS' Mark Phillips said those who defend the World Cups going to Russia and Qatar "can now say that’s the way it’s always worked” (
“Evening News,” CBS, 6/3).The FINANCIAL TIMES' Malcolm Moore noted Russian officials "swiftly dismissed the idea that there could be any threat" to the country’s hosting rights. Russian Sports Minister and FIFA exec committee member Vitaly Mutko said, "The 2018 World Cup is in principle not a Russian project, it’s a product of FIFA. Russia offered its services and FIFA agreed. There are no threats here, this is FIFA’s main event, and this is not the decision of one man but of the executive committee. There is no threat whatsoever" (
FINANCIAL TIMES, 6/4).
