FIFA: Former advisor Michael Hershman says investigation into corruption will go on

A former FIFA advisor insists the investigation into the outcome of the bidding process for the 2022 World Cup will continue despite a report clearing Qatar of any wrongdoing.

A 42-page report by German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, chairman of FIFA's independent ethics committee, said any rule breaches by Qatar and Russia - who will host the event in 2018 - were of 'very limited scope'.

In order to get to the bottom of the allegations he had to rely on voluntary cooperation and a number of key individuals did not cooperate with him.

However, Russia did come in for criticism after failing to provide copies of all their emails from the bid organisation on the basis they no longer had the computer equipment they were using at the time.

Despite being cleared by the report, Michael Hershman, a former advisor to FIFA and a member of its Independent Governance Committee, says an external investigation is still being carried out in the United States.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Mr Hershman said: "I am still digesting this report but it does bring to some conclusion the criticism that has been going on for years now about what FIFA was going to do to look into the allegations.

Power

"But you have to understand the investigation is limited by authority. The chief investigator, Michael Garcia, did not have subpoena power or judicial power so couldn't force anyone to speak to him, nor could he force anyone to provide records to him be they bank records or emails.

There is an ongoing FBI investigation in the United States on information they have been given by a former member of the Exco of FIFA, Chuck Blazer.

"So in order to get to the bottom of the allegations he had to rely on voluntary cooperation and a number of key individuals did not cooperate with him.

"That said, I do not believe this was merely a PR exercise. I think given the fact that prior to the establishment of the new ethics committee protocals and regime, there were no independent investigators or adjudicators within FIFA in its history, now at least they have people who are credible and independent looking at the factors.

"It's not always easy to get to the facts and even law enforcement authorities and judicial authorities who do have powers sometimes can't get to the bottom of the allegations because of cold trails and because of missing witnesses.

Excuse

"This is not an excuse. this is an important piece of work in that it really speaks to the need for continuing reform within FIFA.

"And it doesn't mean that parts of this investigation won't be continued by law enforcement authorities. There is an ongoing FBI investigation in the United States on information they have been given by a former member of the ExCo of FIFA, Chuck Blazer."

And Hershman, a co-founder of Transparency International, believes a number of positives can be taken from the exercise including making the governing body more transparent and limited access to officials from bidding countries in future World Cup processes.

"There has already been some changes," he said. "Previously the host cities were chosen by the executive committee - a 23-member executive committee - but going forward the hosts will be chosen by the entire congress.

The report suggests that executive committee members be prohibited from visiting host cities where they were often treated like royalty.

"That doesn't however mean that the entire executive committee won't have a role. They are going to be reviewing host city proposals and recommending three of those to the congress. So there is still plenty of opportunity in the future to try to influence the decision of individual executive committee members. 

"And I think this report suggests, recommendation wise, that executive committee members be prohibited from visiting host cities where they were often treated like royalty."