Australia accused of trying to buy World Cup vote

AUSTRALIAN soccer officials made improper payments to influence a FIFA member to vote for its World Cup bid, a report by the sport’s world governing body says.

The report by FIFA ethics investigator Michael Garcia scrutinised, in part, Australia’s failed bid to host the 2022 World Cup, ultimately awarded to Qatar.

Garcia investigated Australia’s dealings with Jack Warner, Trinidad and Tobago’s FIFA executive member.

Football Federation Australia paid Trinidad and Tobago’s team costs to play a friendly against an Australian under-20 team in Cyprus in 2009. FFA, a year later, paid Warner $500,000 — money meant for a sporting centre of excellence that he allegedly stole after it was deposited in his personal bank account.

“Those points are strong evidence that FFA made improper payments intended to influence the vote of an executive committee member,” the report said. “The record provides significant evidence the $500,000 was paid with the intention of influencing Mr Warner’s World Cup vote.”

The Garcia report also found Australia hired German lobbyist Fedor Radmann and then tried to conceal his close personal ties to FIFA executive member Franz Beckenbauer.

Other countries including England and the US baulked at hiring Radmann because of his links with Beckenbauer. Comment was being sought from FFA.