UEFA President Michel Platini wants a revote over the host nation of the 2022 World Cup, should Qatar be found guilty of corruption.
The Middle East nation were surprisingly awarded the right to host the tournament back in 2010, on the same day as Russia were allocated the 2018 finals.
UEFA President Michel Platini wants a revote over the host nation of the 2022 World Cup, should Qatar be found guilty of corruption.
The Middle East nation were surprisingly awarded the right to host the tournament back in 2010, on the same day as Russia were allocated the 2018 finals.
However, the Daily Telegraph has this week claimed that FIFA officials accepted bribes in return for giving their support to the country’s bid.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Platini denied any wrongdoing himself and said there should be sanctions imposed should the allegations prove correct.
“If the corruption is proven, there should be sanctions taken and another vote,” he said.
“The only way I see myself as involved in this is by having lunch with a colleague [Mohamed Bin Hammam, the Qatari official at the centre of the allegations}.
“It is an episode that has built up, I don’t know where from or why. I am not corrupt, I don’t know who is behind all of this.
“These are things that are causing harm, these are not things to joke about. I have seen the colleague in question 10,000 times in the last 15 years.
“I realise however that there is something behind this story, or someone who has organised it.”
Platini also spoke of his belief that there is potential conspiracy against him from some quarters, though he did not name the parties he believes guilty of this.
“Everything has been designed to discredit me and the work I’m doing, even though I have no proof of what is being done.
“I think there is a lot at stake – for those who are at FIFA, for those who want to get there and for those who hope to be there one day.
“Maybe I am a person who annoys [certain people]. I don’t regret anything, I think I was the right choice for FIFA and for World football.”