FIFA Ethics Prosecutor Expects World Cup Investigation to Last into 2014

FIFA ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia does not expect his investigation of the controversial 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process to be resolved until well into 2014.

Critics of the election process and the final decision hope that the investigations findings could lead to the vote being reheld. Garcia does not expect this to be the case and has stressed the limitations of his mandate. A statement from Garcia’s firm, Kirkland and Ellis LLP, said: “It is not our role to determine the venue or timing of the World Cup.” It went on to say that the case is “likely to extend at least several months into 2014.”

Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup has come under scrutiny ever since it was announced as the winner in December 2010. Many have questioned why clear warnings about impact the nation’s extreme heat could have on the health of players and spectators were ignored by members of FIFA’s executive committee.

Garcia will visit 11 countries to consult the teams behind nine separate bids to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He is expected to begin in England this week.

The Kirkland and Ellis statement continued: “Members of the Investigatory Chamber intend to speak with and request information from representatives of every bid team that vied to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“The fact that we request a meeting with members of a particular bid team does not mean that any specific allegation has been made by or against that team or anyone associated with it.”