A few years ago, FIFA awarded the Middle East its first ever World Cup when it announced that Qatar would host the sporting event in 2022.
The nation beat out the United States for the opportunity to showcase the most prestigious sports even in the world, but new allegations could potentially jeopardize this historic occurrence from ever occurring. According to the Guardian, an investigation is being conducted by a FIFA ethics committee to see if allegations of corruption are in fact.
According to reports, Qatar officials gave Samson Amadu, son of suspended FIFA official Amos Adamu, $1 million to fund a dinner and workshop the night before the opening of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Amadu senior was one of the people on FIFA committee who voted for the 2022 hosting bid. As part of the deal, he would host "300 eminent guests" most of which were FIFA officials. However, the dinner did not cost more than $220,000.
The deal was allegedly brokered by Qatar's Deputy Chief Executive Ali al-Thawadi months before the contest for the 2022 World Cup hosting rights.
Michael J. Garcia has been appointed to review all the evidence. He is chairman of an independent ethics committee on the investigatory branch.
Adamu senior was banned from FIFA after he was video taped in September 2010 selling his 2018 World Cup vote to Russia for 800,000 Euros. He was also filmed stating that his 2022 bid was not for sale and would go to Qatar. He was subsequently fired from the executive committee, banned from soccer for three years, and lost his voting rights.
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