7 Jun 2014

Platini backs possible 2022 World Cup re-vote

3:58 pm on 7 June 2014

European football's chief Michel Platini, one of the most prominent figures to vote four years ago to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has called for the vote to be held again if allegations of corruption in Qatar's bid are proved.

FIFA is investigating the bids that awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and the 2018 Cup to Russia, including allegations that bribes were paid to secure the Qatari bid.

A former US prosecutor is due to deliver a report in July, about a week after the end of the upcoming World Cup in Brazil, which could see Qatar stripped of the Cup.

Qatar's 2022 bid has long been under fire because the tiny country has no football tradition, few domestic fans and summer temperatures of more than 50 degrees Celsius during the months when the World Cup is played.

Britain's Sunday Times newspaper has published what it said were excerpts from leaked emails and financial accounts showing millions of pounds were spent in bribes to persuade officials to vote for Qatar's bid.

Qatar's bid team denies the accusations.