Sony puts pressure on Fifa over Qatar

Sony has become the first World Cup sponsor to call for a probe into accusations that bribes were paid to secure the 2022 tournament for Qatar, raising the stakes for football chiefs, who have threatened to move the cup if the allegations are proved to be true.

Soccer’s governing body Fifa is conducting an internal investigation into the decisions to hold the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 Cup in Qatar.

Qatar’s bid in particular has attracted controversy from the outset because of the extreme summer heat during the months when the cup is played and the tiny country’s lack of domestic soccer tradition.

The Sunday Times newspaper has printed what it says are leaked documents showing bribes were paid to secure the event for Qatar, which Qatar denies. A former US prosecutor leading Fifa’s internal investigation is due to report in July, around a week after this year’s World Cup finishes in Brazil.

New accusations, according to the BBC allege Qatar’s former Fifa executive Mohamed bin Hammam:

nVisited Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin to discuss “bilateral relations” between Russia and Qatar a month before the votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups;

* Brokered government level talks for Thailand’s Fifa executive Worawi Makudi to push a deal on importing gas from Qatar to Thailand. Makudi told the paper he did not receive a concession for his part in any gas deal;

* Invited Germany’s former Fifa executive Franz Beckenbauer to Doha just five months after the vote with bosses from an oil and gas shipping firm which was employing him as a consultant. The firm involved says it was exploring possible Qatari investments in the shipping and maritime sector but that no deal ever came from the talks. When approached by the Sunday Times, former German international Mr Beckenbauer declined to comment;

nFixed meetings between nine Fifa executive committee members, including Blatter, with members of the Qatari royal family;

* Arranged a meeting between the Qatar bid team and Uefa boss Michel Platini at European football’s headquarters near Geneva. Platini, who has openly admitted voting for Qatar, says Mr Bin Hammam did not attend the meeting and insists he has nothing to hide.

Qatar denies Mr Bin Hammam was connected to its bid for the Cup, and he has not commented. Fifa has already banned Mr Bin Hammam for life from soccer over accusations he paid bribes to win votes for a bid to become Fifa president. That ban was overturned but another was imposed for conflicts of interest.

Until now, Fifa’s sponsors have stayed silent. However, Sony in a statement said: “As a FIFA partner, we expect these allegations to be investigated appropriately.”