World Cup Hosting Votes for Sale?

Not sure if this is shocking or sadly predictable. But former English FA chief executive David Davies has claimed that in the course of bidding to host World Cup 2006, the FA was offered the chance to “buy” votes:

“The FA was offered votes for cash during the bidding to host the 2006 World Cup finals,” claims Davies in his book FA Confidential. “A bribe. An irregular payment. A sweetener. Call it what you like. Those of us at the FA who heard this corrupt proposal were shocked.”

Davies says the offer was made to the FA’s former chief executive Adam Crozier by “an individual well-connected in international footballing circles”. Davies says Crozier refused the offer. “That would never be the FA’s way. Some countries could take short cuts, could walk in the sport’s shadows. Not us.”

How very noble. But why didn’t the FA make this public when it happened?

And not to be too cynical here, but I think the key part of that quote is “claims Davies in his book FA Confidential.” Basically, scandal sells.

Davies claims the incident was reported to FIFA at the time, but FIFA is denying all knowledge. Even less encouraging, a current FA spokesman has said they won’t be looking into the matter:

“This is an anecdotal story by someone who left the organisation two years ago about a phone call to someone [Crozier] who left the organisation six years ago, from an unnamed individual who was not on Fifa’s executive committee.”

This whole mess is a good example of exactly how corruption happens in football. It happens because the people at the top (ie FIFA) are happy to look the other way and because people who could shine a light into dark corners choose to keep it all on the down low. Until they have a book to sell.

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