Previously Secret FIFA Report Finds 'Appearance of Improprieties'

FIFA has released a previously secret report revealing "serious problems" with the World Cup bidding process and noting "possible" ethical violations.

June 28, 2017 at 04:24 PM

3 minute read

By Sue Reisinger
senior reporter

After two years of secrecy, FIFA (The Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Tuesday released the report of its internal investigation into alleged corruption and vote rigging related to its selection of future World Cup sites.

Despite more than a dozen convictions of soccer officials and marketing and media executives in the past two years, the 430-page report cited no illegal conduct in the largest sports organization in the world. It did find unethical and inappropriate behavior, along with “the appearance of improprieties.”

The “Report on the Inquiry into the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup Bidding Process” primarily examines the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. The report found no blatant misconduct that would require rescinding the sites' awards or calling for a new vote.