MOSCOW: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he will not speculate on allegations in an American federal court linking 2022 World Cup host Qatar to payments received by South American soccer officials.
Infantino said he will not comment on “things that are not proven.”
Witnesses in the trial of a former FIFA vice-president and two other former soccer federation presidents from South America have provided details of irregular payments and offers of payment from Qatari officials. The three defendants deny wrongdoing.
Infantino also cautioned against Western nations who try to “paint with a dark paint, everything that comes from the East — Russia or the Arab world.”
The Swiss official, who replaced disgraced former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, said there is a tendency for the West to think “we are the best ones ... we know how democracy works.”
Infantino’s statement came ahead of yesterday’s World Cup draw in Moscow and just a day after it was revealed that French police have questioned former FIFA Vice-President Reynald Temarii in their investigation into suspected corruption in the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Temarii, a former Tahiti player who served as a FIFA vice-president for Oceania, is serving an eight-year ban from football.
Officers from a French police unit that specializes in corruption and financial crimes traveled to Tahiti to question him this week at the request of French financial prosecutors leading the 2022 investigation, a French judicial official revealed.
The official spoke to The Associated Press about the police mission on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss the probe. The official said Temarii was taken into police custody on Tuesday evening and held for one day while he was questioned.
Temarii was banned twice by the FIFA ethics committee — before and after FIFA executives gave the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar in a controversial and corruption-tainted vote.
He first got a one-year ban for talking to undercover reporters from The Sunday Times. He was then banned again for eight years in 2015 for taking €305,640 ($415,000) from Qatari official Mohamed bin Hammam.
The French officers who traveled to Tahiti wanted to question him about that 2011 payment, the judicial official said. It was the first time French police have questioned Temarii in the 2022 probe, the official added.
Bin Hammam, a former FIFA presidential candidate, has been banned for life from football for ethics violations.
FIFA silent over Qatar allegations
FIFA silent over Qatar allegations
Late Nandez winner keeps Al-Qadsiah’s title hopes alive
- Al-Qadsiah move to 47 points, 3 behind leaders Al-Hilal, who are yet to play on Matchday 22
- Al-Taawoun fairytale run loses steam as Pericles Chamusca’s side continue difficult spell
RIYADH: All signs pointed to an unlikely title charge for Al-Qadsiah when they held Al-Hilal to a 2-2 draw in Dammam at the end of January.
Since then, it has been a testing period for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
While they remain unbeaten under the Northern Irishman, Al-Qadsiah have struggled to replicate their earlier intensity as fatigue begins to take its toll.
Despite those challenges, Al-Qadsiah have collected seven points from their last nine, with a dramatic late winner from Nahitan Nandez securing a valuable 1-0 victory over a resilient NEOM side. The road to those three points was anything but easy.
Al-Qadsiah should have been ahead inside three minutes. A high press initiated by Julian Quinones and Mateo Retegui forced NEOM goalkeeper Luis Maximiano into a costly error, with his attempted clearance falling straight to the Italian. The 2024/25 Serie A top scorer struck the post with the goal at his mercy, allowing NEOM to breathe a sigh of relief.
What followed was a tactical battle between Rodgers and Christophe Galtier.
The hosts made a few changes from their previous outing, with Nandez occupying the right flank instead of Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, while Ali Hazazi slotted into midfield.
NEOM mirrored the system, with their wingers tracking Nandez and Christopher Bonsu Baah as they dropped into a 5-4-1 defensive shape. Faris Abdi was a key outlet for the visitors, surging down the left flank on multiple occasions to support Luciano Rodriguez and Alexandre Lacazette.
It was Rodriguez and Lacazette who fashioned NEOM’s most dangerous chances of the night.
In the 38th minute, Koen Casteels denied Rodriguez with a powerful save. Minutes later, a cutback found Lacazette inside the box, but Casteels was again equal to the effort.
The Belgian emerged as the standout performer, making seven saves to keep Al-Qadsiah in contention. His efforts almost went unrewarded, however, as Retegui failed to convert further chances and Quinones endured his first game in 10 without a goal contribution.
Al-Qadsiah eventually grabbed the winner in the dying moments when a cross from Bonsu Baah was flicked on by new signing Waleed Al-Ahmed into the path of Nandez. The Uruguayan powered home what could prove to be the most valuable goal of the season, keeping Al-Qadsiah firmly in the title hunt.
Elsewhere, Damac enjoyed a perfect start under new manager Fabio Carille, as the Knights from the South secured their second win of the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Al-Taawoun.
Yakou Meite scored twice to give Damac their first win since late December, while Al-Taawoun drifted further from the top four after another match without victory.
The result moves Damac three points clear of Al-Riyadh in 16th place, easing immediate relegation concerns.
Meanwhile, Omar Al-Somah continued his pursuit of the all-time Saudi Pro League scoring record with a late winner for Al-Hazem. The hosts defeated Al-Okhdood 2-1 to climb temporarily into 11th, 12 points clear of the drop zone.
Saudi Pro League action returns on Friday, with Al-Shabab hosting Al-Ahli in Riyadh, Al-Hilal welcoming Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad facing Al-Fayha to close out the day’s action.
