DUBAI: Qatar defended its successful 2022 World Cup bid on Friday following corruption scandals in soccer’s governing body FIFA and said it would carry on with plans to stage the event.

Qatar’s World Cup organising committee said in a statement Qatar had conducted its 2022 bid with integrity and to the highest ethical standards, but it would comply with further investigations into the award if asked.

“We wish to reiterate that we have fully complied with every investigation that has been initiated concerning the 2018/22 bidding process and will continue to do so, should this be requested,” it said.

Qatar beat bids from Australia, Japan, the United States and South Korea. Opting to host the world’s top soccer tournament in a small desert state where daytime summer temperatures rarely fall below 40 degrees Celsius startled many in global sport.

Among those opposing the decision were Europe’s leading clubs and human rights groups highlighting tough working conditions in Qatar’s construction sector.

In 2014, Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper alleged Qatari former FIFA executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam had lobbied on behalf of his countrymen, paying out millions in cash, gifts and junkets, especially to African officials.

Qatar has consistently said Bin Hammam played no official or unofficial role in Qatar’s 2022 Bid Committee.

Bin Hammam was banned from soccer for life in July 2011 after being found guilty of attempted bribery surrounding his bid to beat incumbent FIFA president Sepp Blatter in that year’s FIFA presidential election.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2015

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