FIFA to take a Mulligan?
By This hasn’t really been picked up by the media, but according to Prost Amerika Soccer, FIFA is entertaining the possibility of overturning Qatar’s sensible victory in hosting the 2022 World Cup. Slightly more here at The Guardian. Of course, refusing to rule out a re-vote is likely a ploy, given that current FIFA chief Sepp Blatter is being challenged by Mohammad Bin Hammam, from . . . Qatar. Bin Hammam was “heavily involved in lobbying for his nation to win”, hence if corruption existed, he was likely aware. Anything that tarnishes Qatar’s bid conveniently undermines Blatter’s opponent.
The 2022 selection vote was between Qatar, the USA, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. Presumably a re-vote would exclude Qatar, and neither South Korea nor Japan ought to receive much attention as they recently hosted it in 2002. Among the existing bids, it would be between the US and Australia; with Australia only receiving one vote in the first round of voting, the USA should be favored. A new entrant or entrants is possible, but with 2018 being held in Russia, a European bid would be ruled out (sorry, England).
Blatter, shockingly, is on record as denying that corruption exists in FIFA.
In soccer news not involving corruption, the rise of AFC Wimbledon is good story. I’ve been loosely following their rise since their founding in 2002. After five promotions in nine seasons, AFC Wimbledon are now in the Football League proper, promoted to the fourth tier of English soccer.
UPDATE (5/24): Qatar play the “disgruntled ex-employee” card to dismiss the allegations of corruption, pointing out that said allegations are “completely unsubstantiated and false”. Of course.
