FIFA lodged
a Criminal Complaint over the "possible misconduct of individual
persons" in connection with the awarding of hosting rights for the 2018
and 2022 World Cups.
In last week FIFA said there were no grounds to reopen the
controversial bidding processes, following a long-awaited report compiled by
chairman of the investigatory chamber of FIFA's Ethics Committee Michael
Garcia.
Sepp Blatter FIFA president confirmed on Tuesday that, on the
recommendation of FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, it was "his
duty" to lodge a complaint to the Swiss courts.
Former U.S. attorney Garcia said last
week that the governing body had misrepresented his findings, plunging FIFA
into a fresh crisis after continued misgivings about how Russia and Qatar were
handed the next two World Cups.
On FIFA's own website, Blatter said on
Tuesday: "I lodged the criminal complaint upon the recommendation of Judge Eckert.
"I cannot, however, comment on
any possible criminal offences. I am not a lawyer. I also was not the addressee
of the investigatory report, which I have never seen.
"However, given Judge Eckert's
recommendation, it was my duty – as the President of FIFA – to lodge the
complaint."
Rejecting calls to publish Garcia's
report in full, Blatter said FIFA had no authority to do that.
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