British police may investigate FIFA corruption claims as England threaten to pull out of 2018 World
- Emmanuel Blankson Asmah
- May 28, 2015
- 2 min read
22:48, 28 MAY 2015
The FA is said to have a ''secret dossier'' on rival World Cup bids which may be handed over to the Serious Fraud Office
Mike Hewitt - FIFA
Crisis: But president Sepp Blatter has refused to quit
British police could investigate corruption claims at FIFA, amid warnings England may pull out of the 2018 World Cup along with other European teams if Sepp Blatterkeeps his job.
The Mirror can reveal the FA is said to have a “secret dossier” of information on rival bids for the tournament that could blow the lid off the scandal engulfing football.
Officials have never released its details, but in the wake of the arrests of seven FIFA officials on bribery accusations, the Serious Fraud Office could force the FA to hand over its intelligence.
Tory MP Damian Collins, who has been vocal in the past of corruption claims within the world football governing body, said: “The dossier has intelligence related to the other bid teams. Who they were meeting, what they were doing, who their allies were.
EPA/WALTER BIERI
Threat: Michel Platini has warned that UEFA nations may boycott the 2018 World Cup
“This dossier could be used by the SFO as a starting point for an investigation.
“It is clear that government agencies are now needed to root out corruption in football. It appears when FIFA have done their own inquiries they only try to protect themselves. It is now time for a big change in world football and the SFO can play a part in exposing wrongdoing.”
Mr Collins spoke as UEFA chief Michel Platini warned there may be no European teams playing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia if FIFA president Blatter is re-elected on Friday.
Asked about a possible boycott, he said in Zurich: “We will be open to all options. There may be proposals. I honestly don’t wish that.
Nuclear option: Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said the FA must consider a World Cup boycott
“Enough is enough. Too much is too much. In terms of our image it’s not good at all. I am the first one to be disgusted by this.”
Platini called on Blatter to step down and said he had convinced most of UEFA’s 54 members to back the challenger, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.
The FA is also supporting the prince. Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: “What happens if Sepp Blatter is re-elected will need careful consideration, primarily by the FA.
“There are a number of options. Whether one would resort to the nuclear option... is a matter for the FA, but we will need to discuss that option with it.”
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