Australia may yet host 2022 FIFA World Cup in wake of Qatar bribe allegations

AUSTRALIA is ready to throw its hat back in the ring to host the 2022 World Cup in the wake of fresh allegations that we were robbed.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Tim Cahill (top) and the Australians celebrate after Lucas Neill of the Socceroos scored a goal during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between the Australian Socceroos and Jordan at Etihad Stadium on June 11, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Picture: Images Getty

AUSTRALIA is ready to throw its hat back in the ring to host the 2022 World Cup in the wake of fresh allegations Qatar accepted bribes to run the prestigious event.

Damning new evidence suggests the chosen hosts, Qatar allegedly bribed FIFA officials to secure their votes.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, Qatar used a $5.4 million slush fund to secure the support of key members of the 24-man ruling committee.

Australia’s bid for the 2022 World Cup ended in humiliation after they received just one vote.

But now we may have another shot.

The Australian reported Football Federation Australia is giving serious consideration to vy­ing for the 2022 event, again despite the widespread criticism it attracted for spending $43m on the failed bid in 2010.

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Josh Kennedy celebrates a goal for the Socceroos.

“We note these are very serious allegations,” an FFA spokesman said.

“We have been monitoring FIFA’s investigation for many months and will be keenly interested in the response.

“At this stage, we can only continue to encourage a thorough process that uncovers all the facts in a timely way.”

FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce said the organisation should consider re-running the World Cup 2022 bidding process if allegations about the Qatar bid are proven.

The entire bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is being investigated by American lawyer Michael Garcia, and Jim Boyce told Sky Sports News he would not rule out a new vote if Garcia’s report backs up the Sunday Times’ findings.

“I have absolutely no doubt that if there’s concrete evidence supplied by Mr Garcia to FIFA and the executive committee it has got to be taken very, very seriously,” Boyce said.

“I hope the right decision would be made at that time. I think (a new vote) would have to be a possibility, but ... a full investigation is being carried out by Michael Garcia and let’s wait for its developments.”

Mark Bresciano and Australia teammate Tim Cahill rejoice.

England’s Football Association chairman Greg Dyke also called for a re-vote in the event the corruption claims are proven.

“For a lot of people it was a surprise the Qataris won and won easily because there is no real footballing tradition in Qatar,” Dyke told Sky Sports.

“It’s a small country — does it need eight football stadiums? And of course the heat there in the summer makes playing a tournament virtually impossible.

“Those who decided where this tournament was going to go were told that.”

The Sunday Times alleges that evidence uncovered in emails shows how Mohamed Bin Hammam, former president of the Asian Football Confederation, showered committee members with lavish trips and large cash payments.

In one incident, Bin Hammam is believed to have flown in 25 African delegates to Kuala Lumpur for the purposes of discussing the bid. At some point during the meeting he is thought to have handed over $215,000 in cash.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

The report also alleges that former head of Caribbean football Jack Warner was paid $485,000 before the 2010 bid.

Bin Hammam was banned from FIFA for life in 2011 after it was revealed he had bribed officials to try to secure votes for the FIFA presidency.

Qatar was handed the 2022 World Cup on the same day that Russia was awarded the 2018 competition.

Australia’s hosting bid, fronted by Elle Macpherson and Governor-General Quentin Bryce, was over after the first round of voting in 2010.

Japan, South Korea and the US were knocked out in the subsequent rounds in favour of Qatar.