RUSSIAN TO JUDGMENT?

FIFA could pull World Cups

If there is enough evidence of wrongdoing, FIFA has the power to strip the World Cup from Russia and Qatar.

Soccer’s governing body, currently engulfed in the worst corruption scandal in its 111-year history, has a provision that allows it to revoke hosting rights for “unforeseen contingencies and force majeure.”

“If there is still evidence that a substantial amount (of votes) have been bought by illegal means, then of course it could be changed,” Swiss law professor and anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth told The Associated Press. “I would not totally rule it out, and of course there are many other questions linked to it.”

So far, the Russians and Qataris don’t seem to be worried.

FIFA was plunged into crisis when seven officials were arrested in dawn raids last week at a luxury Zurich hotel ahead of the FIFA congress. They were among 14 indicted by U.S. authorities on corruption charges.

In a separate probe, Swiss authorities are investigating the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests, which went to Russia and Qatar.

FIFA has made late changes to big tournaments before, though not on the same scale. Colombia withdrew as the host of the 1986 World Cup four years before kickoff because of economic problems and Mexico stepped in. The 2003 Women’s World Cup was switched from China to the United States with only six months’ notice because of the outbreak of the SARS virus.

Meanwhile, in South Africa on Friday, the Mail and Guardian newspaper published a 2007 letter linking the country’s chief World Cup organizer to a $10-million US payment made to projects linked to Jack Warner, then a FIFA executive and now a suspect in the corruption probe.

In the letter, Danny Jordaan, then- head of South Africa’s World Cup organizing committee, says the money should be paid by FIFA, not the South African government. U.S. investigators have accused unnamed South African officials of channelling $ 10 million through FIFA to Warner as a bribe for backing the country’s successful World Cup bid.

The letter is addressed to FIFA general-secretary Jerome Valcke, with the subject line “US$10.0m promised by the South African government,” and printed on a letterhead with the branding of the 2010 World Cup.

Jordaan, who is president of the South African Football Association, could not be reached for comment.

South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has acknowledged the existence of Jordaan’s letter but says South Africa was not involved in bribery.