Conservative MP calls for Serious Fraud Office to probe elements of World Cup bidding process

A Conservative MP has called for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to investigate a series of events linked to the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup competitions which fall within the UK's jurisdiction.

Opening an adjournment debate at the House of Commons, Damian Collins MP said FIFA had "stumbled from one crisis to another" and was dogged by consistent allegations of bribery and corruption involving some of its most senior officials.

He added world football's governing body was unable to shake off the perception it was a "rotten organisation" and said it now needed to be subject to the "full force of international law" rather than being left to investigate itself.

Of the allegations the SFO can investigate, Mr Collins said these included reports that former FIFA official Chuck Blazer held meetings on behalf of the FBI in London during the 2012 Olympics to seek information from football executives and others.

The Folkestone and Hythe MP added that intelligence gathered by the England World Cup bid team on other bidders would also be within the remit of the SFO to investigate.

Collins also named a London-based law firm as acting for Qatari officials involved in alleged attempts to target a whistleblower who made corruption allegations against the country's 2022 World Cup bid.

Collins said he had been told Olswang was the firm that visited Phaedra Almajid in Washington DC in 2011 and presented her with an affidavit to recant allegations she had made against the Qatari bid.

He said the firm later sent a letter on behalf of Qatari officials accusing Ms Almajid of harassment and threatening to sue her if she continued to contact them.

MPs were told this occurred at a time when the whistleblower was seeking a promised legal letter confirming she would not be sued in return for the affidavit.

Mr Collins said the event was one that would fall into any potential UK criminal inquiry into World Cup bidding.

Ms Almajid worked for the Qatar 2022 bid team before losing her job in 2010. Collins read out a statement he had received from the whistleblower which he said supported her claim that there had been a "deliberate attempt to discredit her".

He said it discussed the "pressures she was placed under to withdraw her allegations".

Claims

MPs were told Ms Almajid's statement said: "The most publicised effort to discredit me relates to an affidavit I executed in 2011. The facts surrounding it the affidavit demonstrate it was coerced and based on a promise that was never kept."

According to the statement read out by Mr Collins, she went on: "In early July 2011 a lawyer from a London law firm representing Qatar's supreme committee for delivery and legacy came to Washington DC and presented an affidavit to me.

"I resisted signing it because it alleged I had lied about what I had witnessed and altered documents which I had not done. Finally, on the threat of being sued and upon a promise I would receive the legal letter I agreed and signed the affidavit.

"I then requested my letter but the Qatari officials changed the deal, saying before I would receive it I had to give media interviews about my affidavit contrary to their promise of anonymity.

"After objecting I gave those interviews as the Qataris and their lawyer kept assuring me I would receive a legal letter. Those assurances are recorded."

"I continued to demand my letter from the Qataris and their lawyers. Finally in October 2011, instead of sending me the promised legal letter the London lawyers for the Qataris sent me a letter accusing me of harassing them and threatening to sue me if I continued to contact them.

"I discontinued demanding my legal letter under the new threat of being sued by the Qatari lawyers."

Mr Collins, speaking under Parliamentary privilege, said: "Ms Almajid does not name the London law firm in question in her statement but I have been told the firm in question was Olswang."

Mr Collins added: "Without the involvement of organisations like the Serious Fraud Office and the FBI, who are already involved, it seems impossible we will ever get to that truth.

"It's only external pressure that will lead FIFA to change."

Replying for the Government, Solicitor General Robert Buckland said the SFO was asking authorities in other countries to share material so that its officers can come and see whether there are reasonable grounds to investigate the allegations in Britain.

Mr Buckland said it was clearly in the interests of football for the matters to be resolved and reiterated the Government's call for FIFA to publish the full report of investigator Michael Garcia into the World Cup bidding process.

Sky Sports News HQ will interview Damian Collins MP at around 8.20 on Tuesday morning.