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Valcke says Qatar did not buy World Cup votes

The Columbian
Published: May 28, 2011, 5:00pm

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke says his reference that Qatar had “bought” the right to host the 2022 World Cup was meant to imply the country simply used its “financial strength to lobby for support,” and not that it had done anything unethical.

The word was used in an email to FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, who released it after being suspended by FIFA on Sunday over bribery allegations in Qatari Mohamed bin Hammam’s campaign to replace Sepp Blatter as its president.

Valcke said Monday he was using “a much less formal tone than in any form of correspondence.”

In a statement Valcke adds that the Qataris had “a very important budget and have used it to heavily promote their bid.”

He insisted he was not referencing “any purchase of votes or similar unethical behavior.”

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