FIFA Reopens 2006 World Cup Probe

FIFA’s new investigator Michael Garcia says he will re-examine whether South Africa was robbed of the hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Although many South Africans will feel the debate over whether there was any wrongdoing around the 2006 bidding process is largely academic – given that the country hosted a highly successful tournament in 2010 – the investigation could have ramifications for top German World Cup officials Wolfgang Niersbach and Franz Beckenbauer.

South Africa lost out in the final round of voting for the 2006 tournament 12-11 to Germany, with Oceania representative Charles Dempsey infamously abstaining from voting against the wishes of his confederation, who had decided to side with South Africa.

Had Dempsey cast his vote as he was mandated to do, the 12-12 score would have left FIFA president Sepp Blatter with a tie-breaking vote, and he had made it clear that he fancied South Africa for the tournament.

Dempsey later claimed he had received death threats prior to the voting, but never adequately explained his decision before his death from natural causes in June 2008.

Recent documents have come to light that show a payment of $250000 (about R1.5-million at the time) was made by FIFA’s former marketing partner company, ISL, to an individual recipient named only as “E16” the day before the vote.

That payment has yet to be explained, but will also be the subject of an investigation by a Swiss federal court, along with the rest of ISL’s dealings.

Garcia has already hinted that he will look into the matter, though his immediate priority is an investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. Garcia says no one should feel safe, suggesting the higher the profile of the person under investigation, the more intensely they will be scrutinised.