The informant of the International Football Federations Associations (FIFA) Phaedra Al-Majid revealed how Qatari sheikhs offered bribes to African football officials so that they would "correctly" vote when selecting the host of the 2022 World Cup, reports AFP. Phaedra Al-Majid insisted that she was in the room where the bribes were offered and given.
Phaedra Al-Majid, who is from Qatar, is an informant in a scandal that arose after the British media suspected that the elections for the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were held in a non-transparent manner. It is alleged that Russia and Qatar won the elections with the help of bribes.
Phaedra Al-Majid revealed that the bribery of African officials took place in the Angolan capital Luanda in January 2010 during the African Football Confederation meeting.
In one of the meeting rooms, Qatari representatives were delighted to be in the same room with a high-ranking African football official and offered him to serve their country.
"He was told he could help his country with 1 million US dollars. Disregarding the speakers, the man replied that he didn't understand why only a million, and not 1.5 million," said Phaedra Al-Majid.
Then the Qatari representatives nodded and asked if they could expect support.
"The African replied that they could indeed expect support," said the informant.
Phaedra Al-Majid insisted that a similar scene unfolded with two other high-ranking football officials from the African continent, but did not name them.
Phaedra Al-Majid and another informant whom FIFA has filed a complaint against for revealing their names during the investigation of the bribery scandal.
www.15min.lt
