Issa Hayatou One of the Voters for Choosing Hosts for 2018 and 2022 World Cup Accused of Taking Bribe

Just days to the voting of 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts, BBC’s Panorama has come out with allegations that Issa Hayatou (Cameroonian), Nicolas Leoz (Paraguayan) and Ricardo Teixeira (Brazilian) took bribes in the 1990s. They allegedly took the enticements from a sport marketing firm, International Sport and Leisure (ISL), which was awarded rewarding World Cup rights between 1989 – 1999.

A confidential document with the details of the bribery lists 175 payments amounting to US $ 100 M. So far, both the three officials and FIFA have not commented on the matter. FIFA declined the request to comment on the accusations but issued a statement that the voting will proceed as scheduled for Thursday 2^nd December.

England is challenging Netherlands/Belgium, Russia and Spain/Portugal in hosting the 2018 competition. The head of England’s bid Mr. Andy Anson argues that the timing of the allegations by the BBC’s programme was not in England’s favor and that he was disappointed and embarrassed with it.

Panorama is the longest-running programme focusing on investigative journalism on current affairs since it was launched 11^th November 1953. The BBC has defended the programme on the bad timing accusation by Mr. Anson and that its interest is for the public.

Mr. Anson’s concern is that FIFA Executive Committee members work closely together and if one gets hurt then other will be hurt too thus affecting England’s chances to gain votes from them.