Sunday, June 19, 2011

Blatter has reason not to want a FIFA investigation of Qatar

FIFA President Sepp Blatter gestures during a press conference. (File photo)
World soccer body FIFA president Sepp Blatter has every interest in avoiding that the organization's inquiry into widespread corruption is expanded to include allegations that Qatar bribed executive committee members to win the right to host the 2022 World Cup.

That could prove difficult if former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger approaches the FIFA corruption scandal the way he approached the 1999 restructuring of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) when it was enveloped by allegations of corruption and improper behavior related to the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.