Report: FIFA Investigating England 2018 World Cup Bid Over £35,000 Dinner Payment

A payment of £35,000 by England’s 2018 World Cup bid to cover a gala dinner for Caribbean officials "is being investigated" by FIFA ethics investigator Michael Garcia, according to Philip Oltermann of the London GUARDIAN. Garcia questioned England 2018 officials "about picking up the bill for the Trinidad dinner during interviews in London" last year as part of his investigation into bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The dinner "was part of efforts to woo the then influential" FIFA VP Jack Warner, "who has since quit football in disgrace." Any action from Garcia’s report "is likely to be announced within the next two months." Sources close to England’s bid said that their lawyers "are comfortable they did not break any rules." The FA "would not comment" (GUARDIAN, 6/15).