(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar yesterday defended its successful bid for the 2022 Fifa World Cup and said it was moving forward with preparations to host the event.
Qatar will "cooperate fully with all investigations concerning the voting process for hosting both the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Fifa World Cup", the country's World Cup organising committee said in a statement.
Fifa was rocked this week by the arrest of seven senior officials as part of an investigation into widespread financial wrongdoing stretching back for years. Separately, Swiss authorities announced a criminal investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who rejected calls to quit following the arrests, was re-elected for a fifth term yesterday after his only challenger conceded defeat.
"We will continue to cooperate when requested to do so, as we committed ourselves when presenting our bid to the highest ethical and professional standards," the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).
Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke yesterday confirmed Russia and Qatar will host the World Cups in 2018 and 2022, respectively, despite the corruption scandal affecting football's governing body.
"Yes, when you ask me the question today, the 2018 World Cup will be played in Russia, then in Qatar four years later, from all the information we currently have," said Valcke.
The Committee, tasked with making preparations to host the 2022 event, said: "Our objective of hosting the 2022 Fifa World Cup is to use the power of sport to unite people and to show the passion of our region's people for football and fans around the world".
"We share Fifa's vision that football has an exceptional power to unite peoples, and we believe that a global event of this magnitude will be used in achieving positive change.
"We are still adhering to these principles and we are moving forward in carrying out our plans which aiming at organising a successful Fifa World Cup that will leave a long-term legacy that continues even after 2022."
Neither Blatter nor Jordanian opponent Prince Ali bin Al Hussein got the necessary two thirds of the ballot in the first round, with Blatter securing 133 votes against 73 for Prince Ali. However, Prince Ali swiftly conceded.
Blatter raised his arms in triumph and promised the congress to be the "commander" who "guides this boat Fifa" out of the corruption turmoil it has sunk into.
"I'm not perfect. Nobody is perfect. But we will do a good job together," he said.
The 79-year-old Blatter also indicated he would not stand again saying he would hand over a "strong" Fifa to "my successor" in four years.
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