FIFA World Cup corruption allegation is an old song that continues to play on the minds of the sports' followers. Authorities have been relentlessly probing such accusations and on September 6, an arrest was made involving a high ranking FIFA official.
Sky Sports reported that Canover Watson, a businessman and vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union, has been nabbed by the authorities for "suspicion of breach of trust contrary to section 13 of the Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Law, as well as abuse of public office."
Watson is also part of FIFA's audit and compliance committee and a close friend to FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, a fellow resident of the Cayman Islands and president of the CONCACAF confederation.
In another FIFA World Cup Corruption-related news, Qatar is reportedly close to losing the rights to host the 2022 World Cup after authorities revealed that they receive new evidences that can prove the Middle East country's involvement in corruption. The evidences were from Ethics investigator Michael Garcia who leads a team that investigate the alleged corruption in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests.
"The report sets forth detailed factual findings; reaches conclusions concerning further action with respect to certain individuals; identifies issues to be referred to other FIFA committees; and makes recommendations for future bidding processes," FIFA said in a statement.
While changes in hosting of 2022 FIFA World Cup seem plausible, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is untouchable for Garcia's team.
CBC Sports wrote:
Garcia did not investigate Russia - where he is barred because of his previous work as a U.S. Attorney - or the American bid, which lost to Qatar in a final round of voting. Separate investigations on those bids were submitted by Cornel Borbely, a Swiss lawyer who is a deputy chairman on the ethics committee.
The reports, delayed since July, will now be examined by FIFA ethics judge Joachim Eckert, who can impose sanctions. It is unclear if Eckert has authority to remove hosts or order re-votes.
