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FIFA denies Qatar buying World Cup hosts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-31 09:37

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke attends a news conference after a meeting of the Ethics Committee at the Home of FIFA in Zurich in this October 20, 2010 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

ZURICH - FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke claimed on Monday in a statement that Qatar had "bought" the rights to hold the 2022 World Cup finals with their financial muscle.

Valcke was expected to make some explanations after FIFA vice president Jack Warnerin sent an email where the FIFA genaral secetary said that Qatar has bought the 2022 World Cup staging rights.

"What I wanted to say is that the winning bid used their financial strength to lobby for support," Valcke said.

"They were a candidate with a very important budget and have used it to heavily promote their bid all around the world in a very efficient manner.

"I have at no time made, or was intending to make, any reference to any purchase of votes or similar unethical behavior.

"I would also like to clarify that there is, as I said yesterday, no investigation open at FIFA regarding the 2022 FIFA World Cup host election."

Valcke also denied claims made by Warner and his fellow executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam that he had influenced the ethics committee to suspend them from all football- related activity until at least July.

"It is fully incorrect - and quite disappointing - to say that I have an influence on the FIFA ethics committee and its proceedings," he said.