Qatar World Cup corruption claim

New allegations of corruption are being made against football governing body FIFA over its decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a country with little football history.

British newspaper The Sunday Times has obtained secret documents which it alleges prove former FIFA executive member for Qatar, Mohamed bin Hammam, made payments totalling 5 million US dollars to football officials to win support for Qatar’s World Cup bid.

The decision to give the World Cup to Qatar provoked widespread condemnation particularly over health concerns for leading players forced to play in the desert nation’s stifling summer heat.

Qatar has received international criticism after more than one thousand construction workers died on football stadium sites. There have been reports of labourers not being given enough food or water.

Qatar has unveiled labour reforms, but human rights groups say they are limited and don’t include such things as a minimum wage or allow for trade unions.