MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIFA new ethics committee will examine 2018 and 2022 World Cup awards

The spotlight is now on FIFA’ chief Blatter

The lead prosecutor of FIFA new ethics committee confirms he will examine the controversial awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar as well as the ISL scandal and corruption allegations involving Sepp Blatter.

One month after hinting at the possibility of probing the bidding race that was plagued by bribery scandals involving FIFA Ex-Co members, US lawyer Michael J. Garcia told German TV channel ARD that he would scrutinise the bid process.

He said the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany would also be examined in the wake of corruption allegations centring on the FIFA decision on hosting rights. The ISL bribery scandal is to be investigated too.

“If you look at this, then it is clear that there is something to investigate, and I'll do that,” Garcia told ARD.

On Blatter, he indicated that the allegations of corruption that have stalked the FIFA president through his 14 years at the helm of world football's governing body are also on his radar.

“The more important is the person involved, the more important it is to study them,” Garcia said.

Blatter's reputation is tarnished by the ISL scandal, having admitted to knowledge of the millions of dollars in kickbacks received by former FIFA chief Joao Havelange and Brazilian FA boss Ricardo Teixeira that were confirmed in Swiss court documents released last month.

FIFA's Independent Governance Committee headed by Mark Pieth previously stated in a report to FIFA that those 2018/2022 scandals were “insufficiently investigated”. (World Football Insider).