Investigation into bidding process for FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cups

Michael Garcia, head of the investigative chamber of world football governing body FIFA's Ethics Committee, has said the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar will be investigated as part of efforts to clean-up world football's governing body.

In July, US attorney Garcia and German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert were named as the joint chairmen of the Ethics Committee with FIFA President Sepp Blatter stating that Garcia would be able to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in the past with no statute of limitations, opening up the possibility of further analysis into the controversy surrounding the awarding of the two World Cups.

The December 2010 FIFA vote saw Russia hold off competition from Portugal/Spain, Belgium/Netherlands and England to win the 2018 World Cup, while Qatar secured the 2022 tournament ahead of the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia.

However, allegations of corruption have subsequently surrounded the conduct of the voting and bidding processes

In an interview with German television network ARD, Garcia stated that the award of the 2006 World Cup to Germany would also come under scrutiny, along with the infamous case surrounding FIFA's former marketing partner ISL.

Blatter came under-fire in July after a newspaper interview in which he seemed to suggest that the rights to host the 2006 World Cup might have been "bought".

Garcia told ARD "if you look at things, it is clear there is something to investigate and that is what we are going to do."

Stating that the conduct of Blatter himself will also be investigated, Garcia added "the more important the person involved is, the more important it is to examine them as well."

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