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Qatar DID buy the World Cup! Suspended Warner accuses FIFA as Blatter faces music
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 4:26 PM on 30th May 2011
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has dramatically confirmed that an email he sent suggesting the 2022 World Cup was 'bought' was genuine.
The email was made public by banned FIFA vice-president Jack Warner as Sepp Blatter prepares to face the media later today.
Under-fire: Blatter is set to face the world's media at 5pm on Monday with FIFA in crisis
Valcke, according to Warner's statement, sent an email to him about Mohamed Bin Hammam 'buying' the 2022 World Cup for his country.
Bin Hammam was then standing against Blatter for president - but he has also been banned by the ethics committee on bribery charges. However, he has announced his intention to appeal against his suspension.
According to Warner, the email from Valcke to him stated: 'For MBH, I never understood why he was running.
'If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore JSB [Blatter]. Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC.'
Responding to the claims, Bin Hammam told BBC Sport: 'You would have to ask Jerome Valcke what he was thinking. I don't know why he has said that.
Crisis: Warner has levelled fresh allegations against FIFA, bringing to light an email sent by Valcke (right) that suggests Qatar 'bought' the 2022 World Cup
'If I was paying money for Qatar you also have to ask the 13 people who voted for Qatar. Asked whether Valcke's allegation was true he dismissed it, saying: 'What do you think?'
Valcke said in Zurich today: 'It was a private email and we will discuss it. He sent me an email asking if I want that [Bin Hammam to run], he said that I should ask Bin Hammam to pull out.'
Valcke said Warner had only published selected parts of the email, and he denied claims by Warner and Bin Hammam that he had influenced the ethics committee against them.
Accused: Suspended FIFA chief Bin Hammam
He added: 'The first time I met the chairman of the ethics committee was yesterday at 5 'o' clock before we went to the press conference. I had no contact at all with anyone.'
Meanwhile, UEFA president Michel Platini defended Blatter against other claims by Warner that he had made a 1million US dollar payment to the CONCACAF federation without authorisation of the finance committee.
Warner had claimed Platini was 'annoyed' about this but the UEFA president said: 'It's not like that, it was a joke with me and Mr Blatter.
'He can give the projects that he wants to give. I joke, I said "but Sepp this was not accepted by the committee" - but he can give many projects to many national associations and we will confirm in the GOAL project after.'
Blatter, who is poised to run unopposed for a fourth time on Wednesday will face the world's press at 5pm.
An ethics committee provisionally suspended vice-presidents Bin Hammam and Warner over serious corruption allegations but cleared Blatter of any wrongdoing, allowing him to go forward to the FIFA Congress ballot.
The only obstacle to the most inappropriate coronation in FIFA history is the highly unlikely event of three-quarters of the 208 delegates from around the globe deciding the election should not go ahead.
Bin Hammam, who withdrew his challenge on Saturday night, has been banned from all football activity pending a full investigation into the charges from his FIFA ExCo colleague Chuck Blazer that Caribbean Football Union officials received 40,000 dollars in bundles of cash for votes at a Trinidad meeting organised by the Asian Football chief and CONCACAF boss Warner.
Warner, the arch rogue in the FIFA gallery who had previously swerved numerous accusations of wrongdoing, has also been given the same suspended sentence.
And FIFA will bring forensic investigators to aid their extended ethics committee probe before a full-scale hearing expected in July, the outcome of which may decide whether the United States then launch an appeal over Bin Hammam's Qatar being awarded the 2022 World Cup, a decision still embroiled in further bribery and corruption allegations.
Qatar released a statement denying any wrongdoing. It read: 'Qatar 2022 categorically deny any wrong doing in connection with their winning bid.
'We are urgently seeking clarification from FIFA about the statement from their General Secretary.
'In the meantime we are taking legal advice to consider our options.'
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 4:26 PM on 30th May 2011
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has dramatically confirmed that an email he sent suggesting the 2022 World Cup was 'bought' was genuine.
The email was made public by banned FIFA vice-president Jack Warner as Sepp Blatter prepares to face the media later today.
Under-fire: Blatter is set to face the world's media at 5pm on Monday with FIFA in crisis
Valcke, according to Warner's statement, sent an email to him about Mohamed Bin Hammam 'buying' the 2022 World Cup for his country.
Bin Hammam was then standing against Blatter for president - but he has also been banned by the ethics committee on bribery charges. However, he has announced his intention to appeal against his suspension.
According to Warner, the email from Valcke to him stated: 'For MBH, I never understood why he was running.
'If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore JSB [Blatter]. Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC.'
Responding to the claims, Bin Hammam told BBC Sport: 'You would have to ask Jerome Valcke what he was thinking. I don't know why he has said that.
Crisis: Warner has levelled fresh allegations against FIFA, bringing to light an email sent by Valcke (right) that suggests Qatar 'bought' the 2022 World Cup
'If I was paying money for Qatar you also have to ask the 13 people who voted for Qatar. Asked whether Valcke's allegation was true he dismissed it, saying: 'What do you think?'
Valcke said in Zurich today: 'It was a private email and we will discuss it. He sent me an email asking if I want that [Bin Hammam to run], he said that I should ask Bin Hammam to pull out.'
Valcke said Warner had only published selected parts of the email, and he denied claims by Warner and Bin Hammam that he had influenced the ethics committee against them.
Accused: Suspended FIFA chief Bin Hammam
He added: 'The first time I met the chairman of the ethics committee was yesterday at 5 'o' clock before we went to the press conference. I had no contact at all with anyone.'
Meanwhile, UEFA president Michel Platini defended Blatter against other claims by Warner that he had made a 1million US dollar payment to the CONCACAF federation without authorisation of the finance committee.
Warner had claimed Platini was 'annoyed' about this but the UEFA president said: 'It's not like that, it was a joke with me and Mr Blatter.
'He can give the projects that he wants to give. I joke, I said "but Sepp this was not accepted by the committee" - but he can give many projects to many national associations and we will confirm in the GOAL project after.'
Blatter, who is poised to run unopposed for a fourth time on Wednesday will face the world's press at 5pm.
An ethics committee provisionally suspended vice-presidents Bin Hammam and Warner over serious corruption allegations but cleared Blatter of any wrongdoing, allowing him to go forward to the FIFA Congress ballot.
The only obstacle to the most inappropriate coronation in FIFA history is the highly unlikely event of three-quarters of the 208 delegates from around the globe deciding the election should not go ahead.
Bin Hammam, who withdrew his challenge on Saturday night, has been banned from all football activity pending a full investigation into the charges from his FIFA ExCo colleague Chuck Blazer that Caribbean Football Union officials received 40,000 dollars in bundles of cash for votes at a Trinidad meeting organised by the Asian Football chief and CONCACAF boss Warner.
Warner, the arch rogue in the FIFA gallery who had previously swerved numerous accusations of wrongdoing, has also been given the same suspended sentence.
And FIFA will bring forensic investigators to aid their extended ethics committee probe before a full-scale hearing expected in July, the outcome of which may decide whether the United States then launch an appeal over Bin Hammam's Qatar being awarded the 2022 World Cup, a decision still embroiled in further bribery and corruption allegations.
Qatar released a statement denying any wrongdoing. It read: 'Qatar 2022 categorically deny any wrong doing in connection with their winning bid.
'We are urgently seeking clarification from FIFA about the statement from their General Secretary.
'In the meantime we are taking legal advice to consider our options.'
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