Qatar can't host World Cup if found guilty: Saudi sports chief
RIYADH, February 25, 2018
Saudi Arabia’s General Sports Authority chief has called for Qatar to be stripped of the 2022 World Cup if it is found guilty of ethics violations relating to its winning bid to host the event, a report said.
Turki Al-Sheikh said in a statement via his Twitter account that while he did not want to see the Gulf state lose hosting rights, the Qatari government should be punished if any wrongdoing is revealed, the Arab News said in the report.
“I do not wish for the World Cup to be withdrawn from Qatar by Fifa. However, if found guilty of any ethical violations, the Qatari government must accept the consequences of their actions,” Al Sheikh said in a Twitter message.
He went on to say that if Qatar was punished, the hosting rights for the tournament could go to either England or the US.
“England is the birthplace of modern football. Its history and pedigree would make it a great host. The USA has tremendous experience in hosting global sporting events,” he added in the message.
The 2022 event has been dogged by allegations of vote buying and other scandals ever since Qatar was announced as host back in 2010.
