The two whistleblowers whose anonymity was "effectively blown" by FIFA's summary of its probe into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments have "submitted complaints about their treatment at the hands of investigators," according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. Phaedra Almajid, who made allegations about Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid, said her identification has "threatened the safety of her family." She has written to Michael Garcia, the head of the investigatory arm of FIFA’s ethics committee, to "protest at her treatment." Bonita Mersiades, the former Australia 2022 exec who gave evidence to Garcia on three occasions "under condition her anonymity would be protected, has also submitted a letter of complaint to him." She said, "It says much about FIFA and those inside their tent that they felt it necessary to engage in a denigration of the two women who had been courageous enough to say something." In Almajid’s letter, she said she had agreed to
speak to Garcia "despite no longer working in football" but did so "in
the belief the true facts known to me are important to the purposes of
your investigation" (GUARDIAN, 11/17). BLOOMBERG's Tariq Panja reported the summary by FIFA's independent ethics judge, Hans-Joachim Eckert, provided enough details about the women to "make them easily identifiable." The women said in a joint email statement, "Although not named in the report, we were clearly identifiable and
within hours of its publication had been widely unmasked as the 'whistle-blowers' in German, British and Australian media. To compound this situation Judge Eckert used his summary report to question our credibility." FIFA said it would not comment on "anything related to the investigation,
referring questions to the offices of Eckert and Garcia." Eckert declined
to comment and Garcia did not respond to a request for comment (BLOOMBERG, 11/17).
MERSIADES PIECE: In a letter published by the Guardian, Mersiades wrote if you are to "believe the summary report," world football is in "good hands." Who, outside Zurich, Munich, Moscow, Doha and New York -- if Garcia "really did write such nonsense -- believes that?" Not Phaedra Almajid, the Qatar whistleblower who "kept silent for two
years, handed over voluminous material including FBI-gathered evidence
and was then trashed disgracefully by Eckert."
Nor me -- who was asked by Garcia to "take part in his investigation 18 months ago." It says much about FIFA and those inside its tent that it "felt it necessary to engage in a
denigration of the two women who had been courageous enough to say
something." The "question is why?" In my case, I know that FIFA and FIFA insiders are "very aware that I
have written a book -- The Bid: Secrets of the Battle to Host the World Cup, not yet published -- about the bid." So "what happens now?" Let the FIFA "pantomime play out: Garcia reports;
Eckert summarises; Garcia appeals against the summary; Eckert admonishes
Garcia for talking to the media." In other words, "pull up a chair, take
out the popcorn and see what happens next" (GUARDIAN, 11/17).
SHOWDOWN LOOMS: In London, Blitz & Bryant reported Garcia and Eckert will come "face to face this week to try to resolve the dispute that is suppressing publication of a two-year probe into the allegations." Garcia is expected to talk with Eckert in an attempt to "resolve their differences." Eckert on Thursday published a 42-page summary of the investigation. His summary was "disowned within hours of its publication" by Garcia, who claimed it "misrepresented his findings." He has protested to FIFA's appeals committee. Eckert said in a statement published on FIFA's website that he and Garcia had spoken and "decided to meet in the coming days." Sylvia Schenk of anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International said it was a "good idea" that Eckert and Garcia were meeting. Schenk: "The tensions between them have been obvious since mid-September" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 11/16).
DIFFICULT DECISION: The AP's Graham Dunbar reported Garcia faces a "difficult decision." He was brought on because of his "clean reputation as a serious investigator." But now, he is "tied to a case that is being called a whitewash all over the world." FIFA critics say Garcia needs to take a stand, "either by resigning as independent chief investigator or by leaking his full report." Swiss law professor Mark Pieth said, "Let's hope he will really leak it." Pieth "does not rule out" Garcia resigning -- "It would be a good moment to quit" -- but prefers the leak option. Pieth: "We simply have to have Garcia's text. My experience is
that in the U.S. everything is leaked for political purposes. Everything
is leaked if it helped" (AP, 11/17).
