U.K. Conservative MP Damian Collins believes a report into "alleged corruption" at FIFA "could lead to criminal charges," according to the BBC. Collins has asked the Serious Fraud Office to "request a copy of the report into the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups." FIFA ethics investigator Michael Garcia filed his report this month, but FIFA said that "its contents will not be made public." Collins believes it may "provide evidence of criminal activity." He wrote, "FIFA seems to believe it is a self-governing body that operates outside the jurisdiction of international and national law-enforcement agencies. I do not believe this is the case and that if it holds information that indicates that offences may have been committed, this must be shared with the relevant law-enforcement agencies" (BBC, 9/22).
'NOT SO CORRECT': In London, Matthew Syed observed in the past few days in football, "we have seen the latest instalment in another
corruption saga." FIFA has announced that it "would not publish the details of
its investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids." Many are "astonished that FIFA could have the gall to suppress its own
findings, but it was all rather predictable." FIFA members who "took brown
envelopes stuffed with cash do not regard themselves as crooks." They see
themselves as "benefactors who are paid for their brilliant work through
unconventional means." The "hypocrisy of the English FA is almost ubiquitous." The "fundamental problem with football is that nobody thinks they are doing
anything wrong" (LONDON TIMES, 9/22).
