FIFA clears FFA over Bid conduct
World football governing body FIFA has cleared Football Federation Australia (FFA) of any wrongdoing around its conduct in bidding for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA wrote to FFA over recent days to state that there were no grounds to open a case and the matter was closed.
FFA Chief Executive Ben Buckley said he was pleased the recent reports published in The Age newspaper were shown to have no substance, stating "we stated all along that those damaging allegations were false.
"Subsequently, we have been cleared by the Federal Government, independent auditors and now by FIFA.
"With this behind us we can now concentrate on our Bid to bring the biggest sporting event in the world to Australia in 2022.
"If we are successful it will be a thrilling result for football fans and provide a lasting legacy for all major sports and a huge benefit to the national economy."
A key stage of Australia's bid will occur this week with a delegation of FIFA inspectors arriving in Sydney to conduct a technical evaluation of Australia's bid.
FIFA have commenced a two-month tour, inspecting the nine countries who are bidding to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
The delegation of FIFA inspectors have already visited Japan and South Korea and now visit Australia (from 26th to 28th July), Netherlands and Belgium (9th to 12th August), Russia (16th to 19th August), England (23rd to 26th August), Spain and Portugal (30th August to 2nd September), United States (6th to 9th September) and Qatar (13th to 17th September).
The FIFA inspection team consists of six delegates and is led by Chilean Football Federation President, Harold Mayne-Nicholls.
The team will be escorted by FFA to inspect a selection of stadiums, hotels, training grounds and other infrastructure included in Australia's Bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
At the end of the inspection tour, the delegation will submit an objective report to assist FIFA's 24 executive members select a host for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will be announced by FIFA on 2nd December 2010 in Zurich.
10 host cities have been selected as part of the Bid under Australia's nationwide hosting proposal that will see FIFA World Cup matches in six states and territories.
The venues that would host a successful Australian World Cup were featured in the May/June 2010 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.
6th July 2010 - FFA SEEKS DAMAGES FROM THE AGE
1st July 2010 - BUCKLEY DEFENDS AUSTRALIA’S FIFA WORLD CUP BID
19th May 2010 - WORLD CUP STADIA AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO COST $2.48 BILLION
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