JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Leaders of Australia’s 2022 World Cup bid expect FIFA to clear them of allegations they offered illegal gifts and inducements in their campaign.
Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy tells The Associated Press he believes FIFA’s ethics committee could publish its favorable report “within days.”
Lowy says the episode has done the bid no credit, but that the FFA broke no rules.
FIFA started investigating last month after The Age newspaper reported that FIFA executive members who choose World Cup hosts were given jewelry and offered travel expenses.
Australia’s government cleared the federation of further allegations about accounting practices and use of taxpayer funds. The federation is suing the newspaper for defamation.