WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 SPORTS

Qatar hits back at ‘untrue’ worker deaths report

DOHA: Qatar hit back yesterday their lives,” read the statement. retracted.Qatar said it had written to countries”. Some 3,500 laborers have worked against a “completely untrue” claim in a “This is completely untrue. In fact, the Washington Post to complain but On its website, the Post said the sto- on the five stadiums which are in the Washington Post story which estimat- after almost five million work-hours on was told because the “article had ry had been “updated to reflect the fact stages of preparation for football’s ed that 4,000 workers are likely to die World Cup construction sites, not a sin- appeared online and not in print”, the that figures include total migrant work- biggest tournament in seven years’ on World Cup 2022 building sites. gle worker’s life has been lost. Not letter would not be published. er deaths in Qatar, not just World Cup- time. A strongly-worded statement from one.” It said the Washington Post had tak- related deaths”. There is also a vast army of some Qatar’s Government Communication The statement added that article en the “total annual mortality figures Qatar has come under huge interna- one million migrant workers working Office, claimed “enormous damage has meant “readers around the world have for Indian and Nepalese migrants tional pressure for its treatment of on related infrastructure projects, such been done to Qatar’s image and repu- now been led to believe that thou- working in Qatar and multiplied those migrant labourers from rights groups, as the building of a metro system. tation” by the article, “The Human Toll sands of migrant workers in Qatar have numbers by the years remaining trades unions and campaigners. Qatar has pledged to reform the of FIFA’s Corruption”. Doha said in the perished, or will perish, building the between now and the 2022 World Cup”. Qatar has been criticised for its use kafala system, and a wage protection statement that no one has died on facilities for World Cup 2022 — a claim Doha said the calculation made no of the kafala system-which has been system will come into place this sum- World Cup construction sites. that has absolutely no basis in fact”. distinction for how those deaths likened to modern-day slavery-confis- mer. It is also building new accom- “An article in the Washington Post... The article, which was posted online occurred. It said 400 people would die cation of labourers’ passports, non-pay- modation for more than 250,000 claimed that 4,000 workers are likely to on May 27, has been viewed more than from cardiovascular disease each year ment of staff, squalid accommodation World Cup labourers, but has faced die while working on World Cup sites five million times, said Qatar. Doha says and these deaths would have occurred and working conditions in fierce desert further criticism for the slow pace of and that some 1,200 had already lost it wants the article corrected and “even had they remained in their home temperatures. reform. —AFP FIFA denies Blatter deputy approved $10m payment

ZURICH: FIFA yesterday admitted that it had development project, it added. processed a $10 million payment from South Valcke is not among those facing charges Africa to a disgraced football official but denied and Swiss authorities said that they have the world body’s secretary general Jerome received no US request for assistance regarding Valcke was involved. the French secretary general. FIFA said a former finance committee chief Valcke on Monday announced that he had who died last year, Argentine Julio Grondona, called off a planned visit to Canada next week authorised the 2008 payment which went to for the start of the Women’s World Cup. Blatter Jack Warner. still plans to attend the final. Warner, one of 14 people facing corruption “The payments totalling $10 million were charges in the United States over $150 million authorised by the then chairman of the finance in bribes, was at the time Grondona’s deputy on committee and executed in accordance with the finance committee. the organisation regulations of FIFA,” added the FIFA released a statekment after the New statement. Grondona, a controversial figure in York Times reported that Valcke, right hand man world football over many decades, was finance to FIFA leader Sepp Blatter, had signed off on committee chief at the time. He was a senior the payment. FIFA vice president when he died last year at the Despite the denial, Britain’s Press Association age of 82. Swiss police, following a US request, news agency reported a letter from South arrested seven FIFA officials in Zurich two days Africa’s Football Association chief to Valcke before Blatter was reelected as president on which indicated he knew about the payment. Friday. The South African government asked FIFA to Blatter, who has faced calls, even since his “withhold” money intended for the organisers reelection, to stand down, has expressed of the 2010 World Cup and send it to a develop- doubts about the raid. But the corruption scan- ment project in the Caribbean run by Warner, dal has since spread with authorities in several the FIFA statement said. According to US inves- countries launching investigations. Brazilian tigators, the $10 million was a bribe promised prosecutors are investigating Ricardo Teixeira, to Warner and his deputy Chuck Blazer to former Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) secure the 2010 World Cup. president, for money-laundering and fraud, offi- South Africa has strongly denied any wrong- cials said. Jose Maria Marin, who was CBF presi- doing. Its football leaders have promised to dent until April, was one of the seven people hold a press conference yesterday to “fully detained in Zurich. Texeira led the CBF for 23 address allegations”. years until 2012. ZURICH: FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks during a press conference at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. Blatter resigned from his position The New York Times, quoting US investiga- Police found that between 2009 and 2012, amid corruption scandal. —AP tors, said Valcke had approved the payment to Texeira moved 464 million reais (about $150 an account controlled by Warner, then head of million) through his accounts, the news- the North and Central American and Caribbean magazine Epoca reported after gaining access confederation (CONCACAF), The New York to the police file. FA chief Dyke: Blatter’s shock Times, citing unnamed law enforcement offi- Teixeira, now 67, stepped down in 2012 cials, said the payments are a crucial part of the amid corruption allegations. He is the son-in- indictment against the 14 football officials and law of former FIFA president Joao Havelange, resignation ‘great for football’ marketing executives. who was also involved in multiple controversies FIFA said it had acted as an intermediary while head of the world body. Paraguayan LONDON: Sepp Blatter’s shock resignation as between South Africa and a World Cup legacy authorities have meanwhile placed the ex-presi- FIFA president yesterday was hailed as “great for project to “support the African diaspora in dent of the South American Football football” by one of his chief critics, English FA Caribbean countries”. Confederation, Nicolas Leoz, 86, under house chief Greg Dyke, who said he suspected a “smok- Neither Valcke “nor any other member of arrest. Leoz is one of the 14 facing US charges ing gun”. Dyke, who told BBC World he lost faith FIFA’s senior management were involved in the and US authorities had asked for his extradi- in Blatter last year, said he thought the 79-year- initiation, approval and implementation” of the tion.—AFP old Swiss realised the mounting corruption scandal that has engulfed world football’s gov- erning body “was getting close to him”. “It is a good afternoon! I think it’s brilliant for world football. This is the start of something new,” said Dyke. “When I left on Friday (when he was reelected for a fifth term) I said ‘this is not over’ - but even I couldn’t have thought it’d be over so soon. “Why didn’t he step down last week? Clearly there’s a smoking gun of some sort. He’s not been honorable in years. Now he’s gone - let’s celebrate. “The whole organisation of FIFA needs re-structuring. The whole organisation needs looking at financially. “The future has got to be about transparency but this is great news today.” Dyke added that FIFA under Blatter had done some good, including taking the World Cup to Africa for the first time in 2010, but added: “It’s all been done under a cloud of corruption and today it ends.” However, Dyke said that with Blatter due to ZURICH: In this Friday, May 29, 2015 file photo, FIFA president Sepp Blatter after his election go, the hosts of the 2022 World Cup Qatar as President greeted by UEFA President Michel Platini (right) at the Hallenstadion. —AP FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke should be very nervous. One of the two investi- heard for a long time. “The best news for ages! Facebook post the Brazilian senator wrote that a gations involving FIFA is a Swiss one regarding Joseph Blatter stepping down as FIFA president “tsunami” was breaking over the sport and he the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups represents the beginning of a new era for world hoped it would sweep away those guilty of cor- Timeline of events to Russia and Qatar respectively. football,” Romario said in a post to social media. ruption and see them jailed. “If I was in Qatar I wouldn’t be very confident,” The 49-year-old former striker-a World Cup “I now hope that the waters of this big wave ZURICH: The awarding of the 2022 World Cup to World Cup will not take place in June-July, but said Dyke, who was involved with the bid for the Qatar and the 2018 World Cup to Russia have the world governing body insists that a decision winner in 1994 — has been a bitter critic of will prove sufficient to sweep away all the cor- 2018 edition. Indeed Dyke said the reason he world football’s governing body and also the ruption” at the apex of the game, said Romario. been at the heart of the corruption scandal that is yet to be made. began to turn against Blatter was down to the led to yesterday’s drama in Zurich when Sepp June/July 2014: Pressure grows on FIFA at Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), blasting He noted that Blatter, after insisting he had latter’s dismissive attitude to an article in The them as corrupt and in need of root and branch nothing personally to reproach himself for, had Blatter resigned as FIFA president. AFP takes a the Brazil World Cup to order a new vote on the Sunday Times-often a purveyor of stories on look at the timeline of events that have split the 2022 tournament as a probe gets under way reform. Last week, the former striker had lam- resigned his post after “not withstanding a week FIFA-last year. basted leading figures in the world game as “cor- of pressure.” football world and rocked to the core the world headed by US lawyer Michael J. Garcia, but “I got very upset with Blatter a year ago after governing body. Blatter vows to fight critics trying to “destroy” rupt” and “thieves” after an FBI probe brought With Blatter gone, he added, “we have a great an excellent article in the Sunday Times regard- seven arrests, including two FIFA vice presidents, opportunity to clean up football efectively December 2010: In a ceremony in Zurich FIFA. October 17 2014: FIFA’s top judge says that ing the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar,” said FIFA announce to general surprise that Qatar it cannot release Garcia’s final report of the vote in Switzerland. One of those detained was Jose worldwide” and reform FIFA, an organization Dyke. “He dismissed it as just being racist. I Maria Marin, who until April was CBF president. which he charged with “transforming itself has won the right to stage the 22nd World Cup, for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in full for legal found that offensive and it was then with (Dutch taking 14 of 22 votes in the fourth round. reasons with Garcia later complaining that a The arrests followed an FBI probe into what US merely into a money-making machine.” Football FA president and who withdrew from the presi- officials alleged was a $151 million, 24-year should instead, Romario insisted, seek to fulfil a January 2011: FIFA president Sepp Blatter, summary of his report misrepresented his con- dential race the week before the election) bribery scheme. Romario said after the arrests social mission to “unite peoples and bring down speaking in the Qatari capital Doha ahead of the clusions. Michael van Praag that we formed a platform that he hoped Blatter would also be detained. In social barriers.” —AFP Asian Cup, says that he expects the tournament November 18 2014: FIFA lodges a criminal against him.” “will be held in winter”. complaint with the Swiss attorney general over As regards the future with FIFA Dyke said he May 2011: Allegations of corruption contin- “possible misconduct” by individuals in connec- was looking for a lot more transparency. “We ue to blight the bidding process for both the tion with the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 want to know where the money went,” he said. Prince Ali to stand for 2022 and 2018 tournaments. A whistleblower, World Cups. “We don’t know how much Sepp Blatter was who is later revealed to be Phaedra Almajid, for- February 24: A FIFA World Cup task force paid, his bonuses or his expenses.” However, merly part of the Qatari bid, claims that money recommends the 2022 World Cup in Qatar be Dyke, a former leading television executive with new FIFA presidency was paid to FIFA’s Executive Committee in order held in winter, probably in November- roles including Director-General of the BBC, to buy votes. December, to avoid the scorching summer tem- ruled himself out of being a candidate to replace AMMAN: Jordanian Prince Ali bin al Sabra, who added that it had “lost its legiti- July 2011: Almajid retracts her claims of cor- peratures in the Gulf state. Blatter. “My wife might kill me if I did,” he said. He Hussein will stand in new elections for the macy”. ruption and insists that she wanted to exact May 27: Top FIFA officials are taken into cus- said, though, that the next president would have presidency of world football’s governing “Prince Ali is ready to take over as FIFA revenge after losing her campaign job. tody in Zurich for alleged racketeering, conspira- to be pure as driven snow. body after Sepp Blatter announced he was head at any moment, should they ask him,” December 2012: Hassan al-Thawadi, the sec- cy and corruption over two decades while Swiss to quit FIFA, a senior Jordanian football offi- reiterated Sabra, dubbing Blatter’s retary general of the Qatar 2022 supreme com- authorities raid the FIFA headquarters looking “They must have an impeccable character cial told AFP. Prince Ali failed in his bid last announcement a “big collapse” and hailing mittee, insists staging the tournament in sum- for evidence linked to the awarding of the 2018 and be able to run an organisation where cor- week to oust Blatter, the Swiss veteran win- the prince at “having succeeded in provok- mer is feasible. A huge investment in infrastruc- and 2022 World Cups. ruption has been rife for years... a lot of people ning a fifth term in Friday’s vote, but then ing change”. In Friday’s presidency election ture will create super-cooled stadia to protect May 28: The US attorney general charges could do the job.” fans and players against the heat. that FIFA officials took millions of dollars cash in British Secretary of state for Culture, Media announcing Tuesday that he was to step in Zurich, Blatter won 133 votes to Prince September 2013: UEFA’s 54 member associa- return for helping to win the vote for South and Sport John Whittingdale told BBC Radio 5 down amid a growing corruption scandal. Ali’s 73 in the first round of voting. tions back plans to move the tournament from Africa to host the 2010 World Cup. live: “I hope football can now come together. The “As for new elections, Prince Ali is ready,” That left Blatter seven votes short of its traditional June and July slot. June 3: Reports claim that FIFA’s second chasm was created by Blatter wanting to hang Sala Sabra, vice-president of the Jordanian the required majority, requiring a second November 2013: Amnesty International most powerful official, Jerome Valcke, knew on. Europe was supporting an alternative candi- football federation which the prince heads round of voting. The Jordanian prince, a uncover alleged “human rights abuses” on World about the South Africa payment to disgraced date and as long as he was there it was going to up, told AFP. FIFA vice president campaigning for Cup construction projects, releasing a report former CONCACAF chief Jack Warner. FIFA be difficult to move forward. “I now hope every- The prince, Sabra added, was also ready reform of the scandal-tainted organisa- that details “an alarming level of exploitation”. denies that was the case, but at a hastily- one can come together to make the changes “to take up the presidency immediately if tion, withdrew before that second round, January 2014: FIFA secretary general arranged news conference its chief Sepp Blatter required.” Meanwhile, former Brazil star-turned- they ask him”. “We’re currently studying the however, allowing Blatter in for his short- Jerome Valcke says in a radio interview that the announces he is to resign. —AFP senator Romario saluted Sepp Blatter’s resigna- legal situation of the FIFA presidency,” said lived fifth term. —AFP tion as FIFA president as “the best news” he’d