FIFA corruption case

The selection process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments has been mired in allegations of widespread corruption and bribery, Politico reported.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a criminal investigation in his country over allegations he accepted bribes to support Qatar's bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Telegraph reported Thursday.

An ethics tribunal of scandal-plagued FIFA on Dec. 21 banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years saying they had abused their positions over a 2 million Swiss francs payment made to Platini.

The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee provisionally banned FIFA President Sepp Blatter, UEFA President and FIFA Vice-President Michel Platini and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke for a period of 90 days.

The duration of the bans, which come into force immediately, may be extended for an additional period of not more than 45 days.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini are thought to be under formal investigations on the alleged transfer of 1.76mln Euros by the former to the latter’s bank account only a few weeks before Platini stepped down as a contender for the FIFA Presidency.

International police body Interpol on June 12 announced it was suspending a 10-year partnership deal with FIFA worth 20 million euros ($22 million) following a corruption probe into football's world governing body.

FIFA admitted of having made a payment of EUR 5 M to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to stop legal action initiated by the Irish.

Ireland launched the legal action after the team was controversially defeated by France in the play-off for the 2010 World Cup, the BBC reports.

US prosecutors have detailed evidence of corruption at the highest levels of FIFA, tainting the award of hosting rights to the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, as police investigations spread June 3 to Australia.

Organisers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have indicated they will not relinquish the right to host soccer's showpiece event easily, whatever the fall-out from Sepp Blatter's decision to step down as FIFA president. 

Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter, aged 79, is under investigation by FBI and US prosecutors following a corruption scandal that has rocked the international football scene. News reports that Blatter announced his intention to resign from his post as FIFA president on Tuesday coincides with a probe into his activities following the arrest of 14 FIFA officials.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has resigned in a stunning capitulation to exultant critics as a US investigation reportedly draws closer to ensnaring the most powerful man in world sport.