Would Britain get the World Cup in 2022 if Qatar doesn't?
While loudly criticizing FIFA, Britain hints at willingness to host World Cup.聽UK Sport Secretary John Whittingdale declared today that his country is ready and able to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
聽鈥淚f FIFA came forward and asked us to consider hosting it, we have the facilities in this country.鈥� . 鈥淚n terms of the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, that is obviously something which we are watching, but at the moment that decision stands.鈥�
In December, 2010, Qatar won the right to host the 2022 tournament, beating out Australia, Japan, the United States and South Korea.
Allegations of corruption cast a shadow over the ballot since then, but recent indictments against senior FIFA executives and the resignation of Sepp Blatter as FIFA president added fuel to the fire.
Since the scandal broke out Britain has sharply criticized FIFA鈥檚 governing body. Last week that 鈥渁 change in the leadership of FIFA leadership is very badly needed,鈥� 聽and on Wednesday former national team captain David Beckham slammed FIFA鈥檚 failings as 鈥榙espicable.鈥�
Switzerland and the United states are now investigating allegations around the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 events. Russia and Qatar, the respective winners, deny any wrongdoing in their bids.
Although there is no hard evidence that Qatar will lose the right to host the Cup, there are rumors that some countries are ready to enter the rebid.
Besides Britain, there are rumors that Australia and the United States will enter the rebidding process. Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said on Wednesday that if Qatar loses the 2022 World Cup he expects the event will be hosted by either Australia or the United States. So far there has been no announcement of a rebid.
Qatar says it will not lose the 2022 event. Qatar's Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah said on Wednesday his country would be stripped off its hosting rights. Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to have been selected to host the World Cup. The country has already started聽building聽the infrastructure to host the event.
But Britain鈥檚 government feels otherwise. 鈥淚f there is evidence that the bid process was corrupt then I think the case for re-running it is very strong,鈥� Sport Secretary Whittingdale told the parliament today. In the meanwhile, Britain is going to wait for the outcome of the investigations.
