'Russia & Qatar may lose World Cups' - Fifa official

[Charnwood]

Russia and Qatar could lose the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively if evidence emerges of bribery, leading Fifa official Domenico Scala has said.

The countries deny wrongdoing in their bidding processes and Scala admits he has not seen evidence of corruption.

Scala is the head of Fifa's audit and compliance committee, but he said: "Should there be evidence that the awards to Qatar and Russia came only because of bought votes, then the awards could be cancelled."

Surely if the 2028 World Cup needs to be rearranged England would be in a strong position to put in a bid at short notice?

[K L Blue]

The FA have ruled themselves out of getting the world cup after russia as Russia are in europe and thjey said it would go to another continent

[TODD66]

The FA have ruled themselves out of getting the world cup after russia as Russia are in europe and thjey said it would go to another continent

However if Russia did get canned then a European nation would be needed at short notice so why not England?

FA only said no to 2022 as that would have been 2 European world cups on the bounce.

[hallamblue]

FIFA is rotten to the core, of course those two World Cup awards are corrupt. But I agree I think England ate very well placed to host the next WC.

[arana peligrosa]

The game and it's authorities have been corrupt for years, remember Argentina '78.... So long as there's money to be made or something is better suited to another for someone's benefit, it's not going to change anytime soon.

They say referees never change their mind, and here we're taking about the World's most powerful soccer organization. I realize the Qatar decision was bullshit from day one, and there's going to be some further embarrassment to come, but don't have an issue with Russia going ahead as intended.

[ipswichtownNo1]

I think yhey should go ahead as planned. Why should so many local people miss out just because a few people saw fit to bribe their way to hosting it. I know i would be right pi$$ed off if it happend to england.Let them have it and enjoy it and lets look forward to a new fifa who promote the game in a positive way moving forward.

[Bluemike]

Bribes or not having it Qatar is bloody stupid and will f*ck up domestic football in several countries, I would move it without hesitation.

[number 9]

Scala said the same thing in 2013! They're not gonna change anything...the damage is done. They'd be massive international lawsuits if FIFA changed venues now.

[ipswichtownNo1]

Bribes or not having it Qatar is bloody stupid and will f*ck up domestic football in several countries, I would move it without hesitation.

Maybe so but its called the world cup, not the " lets have a cup that fits the diary of several countries" cup

[Bluemike]

And what about the 100's maybe 1000s of migrant workers who have reportedly already died working on the building of the stadia etc in readiness for this farce ?

I see nothing but stupidity in holding the World Cup in a glorified sh*t hole like this, the heat is so bad over there that the thing is being moved so that the players will actually be able to perform, nobody in their right mind would give the tournament to Qatar unless of course they were on the fiddle....surely not ?

Strangely enough it is club sides that pay players wages and indirectly us the fans so why should we have opur domestic season messed up to accomodate this farce ? I for one am hoping they move it to somewhere sensible and in doing so help to stop more people losing their lives, god forbid we don't see players actually keeling over in the intense heat should it go ahead as planned.

[marko69]

I think it's called the World Cup due to the fact that countries from all over the world attempt to qualify for it, and then play in it.

Where it is hosted should only go to countries who can accommodate it within reason. And within reason also means playing it in June/July.

Who knows, maybe Blatter and Co were trying to do a good thing by attempting to "include" the entire world with the Qatar thing. But it's gone wrong........, you can't walk 100 yards in Qatar without the need for water or a Fab Ice Lolly.

Hopefully it's sorted. Or it'll be the "Bangladesh 2046"........., the next Hugh Edwards reports; "Thousands of workers were swept into the ocean today as a cyclone and subsequent mudslide hits Bangladesh. All the stadiums are f*cked and it's only 3 days until kick off."

[Shed on tour]

God forbid if we are given the tournament as I really couldn't take getting another email from our FA virtually telling me thou shalt not fart at games.

[arana peligrosa]

Believe the problem started around 2002 as up until then the competition was either held in Europe or the America's and then we saw tournaments being staged in places such as Japan and Korea, South Africa etc. Kind of tarnished the integrity of the competition a little and believe around that time lost some significant interest in the 'World's greatest sporting event'. This Qatar thing - should it go ahead - will in so many words, be the greatest insult yet, and if they're willing to stage it there, what other outlandish places will they think of after ?

Don't see how they can change at this stage either. A lot of hard work and preparation has gone into both nations in early readiness for competition and it would only bring futher embarrassment if they were to declare they wanted it moved to other countries. We know Qatar is unsuitable, we know it was a questionable decision, but as before are they really going to make such a huge alteration at this stage ?

[marko69]

but as before are they really going to make such a huge alteration at this stage ?

I think so, Saint. It's only 2015......., it's not until 2022. Plenty of time for Qatar to get over it, and for Italy to host it. Italia 22.

[number 9]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33044898

[number 9]

Seems like a lovely place for a World Cup:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... eport.html

[derick_ipsw]

I think it's called the World Cup due to the fact that countries from all over the world attempt to qualify for it, and then play in it.

Where it is hosted should only go to countries who can accommodate it within reason. And within reason also means playing it in June/July.

Who knows, maybe Blatter and Co were trying to do a good thing by attempting to "include" the entire world with the Qatar thing. But it's gone wrong........, you can't walk 100 yards in Qatar without the need for water or a Fab Ice Lolly.

Hopefully it's sorted. Or it'll be the "Bangladesh 2046"........., the next Hugh Edwards reports; "Thousands of workers were swept into the ocean today as a cyclone and subsequent mudslide hits Bangladesh. All the stadiums are f*cked and it's only 3 days until kick off."

And Scotland's first match in the finals for...........(still counting )........68 yrs is in Jeopardy.

[marko69]

Ha! Thankfully I won't be around to see it. Hopefully Strachan is still the manager though!

Speaking to a guy last night, (who must've been released by the Andrew Duncan Clinic for the weekend) and he was saying Scotland will qualify for the 2018 World Cup, AND go far in it. I spat all over the place. Complete waste of beer.

[number 9]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/n ... d-cup-xavi