Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Seeks Immediate Release of Michael Garcia Report
Michael Garcia was appointed FIFA's independent ethics investigator in 2012 and spent two years investigating all nine bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups following claims of corruption and collusion.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: December 27, 2015 06:53 pm IST
FIFA presidential hopeful Prince Ali bin Al Hussein on Sunday called for the immediate publication of Michael Garcia's report on alleged bribery and corruption during bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. (FIFA 'Decimated' by Scandal: Prince Ali bin al Hussein)
The Jordanian prince made the remarks at a conference in Dubai alongside UEFA general-secretary Gianni Infantino, another candidate in the race to be elected the head of world football's governing body on February 26. (Prince Ali Formally Submits Candidature For FIFA Presidency)
Prince Ali urged FIFA to have "some basic norms, like publishing the Garcia report immediately, because even those who are running for the position of FIFA president... need to know what has been going on in this organisation, and the public needs to know as well". (Prince Ali bin Hussein Out to Wrestle FIFA From Sepp Blatter)
Former US prosecutor Garcia resigned as FIFA's chief corruption investigator last year in protest at the body's handling of his report on the decisions to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Garcia said he had found "serious and wide-ranging issues" in the bidding process for both of the World Cups.
He had complained that a summary of his report released by FIFA's top judge, Hans-Joachim Eckert, was "incomplete and erroneous".
Eckert had insisted there was no evidence of corruption and that there should be no new vote on the venue for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
FIFA has defended its refusal to publish Garcia's report on the grounds it would undermine a promise to all those who gave evidence on condition of anonymity.
"There have been a lot of proposals for reform within FIFA, but the main issue is not the proposals themselves, but the implementation of these proposals," said Prince Ali.