Qatari World Cup vote-buying unproven, says Dutchman Gullit
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 08 June, 2014, 5:45am
UPDATED : Sunday, 08 June, 2014, 5:45am
Danny Lee [email protected]
Former soccer star Ruud Gullit says the British are bad losers over World Cup bid. Photo: Edward Wong
Former soccer star Ruud Gullit has accused England of being bad losers after a British newspaper alleged Qatar paid US$5 million to buy votes for its successful 2022 World Cup bid.
Dutchman Gullit, who is employed by the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network, said The Sunday Times had failed to prove financial impropriety between Qatari soccer chiefs and the game's world governing body, Fifa.
"People are assuming a lot of things," said Gullit, 51.
The votes to decide who would host the 2022 and 2018 World Cups were held at the same time in December 2010, with Qatar and Russia the respective winners and England losing its bid for the 2018 tournament.
There was nothing humble about England's defeat, added the former AC Milan player and Chelsea manager, who had been an ambassador for the Belgium-Netherlands 2018 bid.
"The funny thing is, especially, the English are pissed off about everything. They are very bitter [and] shoot themselves in the foot all the time," said Gullit, who was in Hong Kong to promote late-night World Cup soccer screenings at Sun Hung Kai Properties' APM mall in Kwun Tong.
The Sunday Times reported that Mohamed bin Hammam, then-Fifa executive for Qatar, made payments of up to US$200,000 into accounts controlled by the presidents of 30 African soccer associations. It said he also hosted hospitality events in Africa at which he handed out additional funds to get backing for Qatar's bid. Fifa is investigating the vote in 2010 following previous corruption accusations.
As for this year's tournament in Brazil, Gullit said it was wide open and thought the cup might not go to one of the favourites.
The former midfielder, who earned 66 international caps, questioned Brazil's readiness for the tournament and sympathised with the Brazilians who have been seen clashing with police over the US$11 billion costs involved. "People suffer … you can't just ignore it," he said.
As for football in China - whose team did not qualify for Brazil - Gullit quipped: "The Chinese for me are incredible - 1.3 billion people and you can't find a good 11."
