Fifa find no cause to block Russia, Qatar World Cups

ZURICH: A much-awaited Fifa report on the race to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups makes no suggestion that Russia or Qatar should lose the right to stage the tournaments, despite detailing many attempts to influence voting officials.

The lack of transparency surrounding the bidding for two major global sporting showpieces prompted closer investigation of Fifa affairs that led to the indictment of a host of senior officials, and the resignation and banning of Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

The 430-page said Blatter, who has denied any wrongdoing, bore “some responsibility for a flawed process that engendered deep public scepticism”, though it also praised him for implementing reforms including those that made the report itself possible. – Reuters