For the first time since indictments were brought forth on May 27, a person tied to FIFA has admitted that Russia and Qatar could be stripped of hosting the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Reuters confirmed on Sunday that Domenico Scala, who serves as the independent chairman of FIFA's audit and compliance committee, told a Swiss newspaper both World Cups could indeed be moved as a result of ongoing investigations into improprieties in the bidding process.
"If evidence should emerge that the awards to Qatar and Russia only came about thanks to bought votes, then the awards could be annulled," Scala told Sonntags Zeitung in an interview that was published on Sunday.
"The evidence has yet to be rendered," said Scala.
Reuters confirmed through a Scala representitive that he did make those remarks.
On May 27, the United States Department of Justice brought forth indictments on 14 people in relation to corruption charges surrounding FIFA. A parallel Swiss investigation was announced on the same day that said they would investigate the bidding process behind the 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes. On June 3, a Reuters report stated that a US law enforcement official confirmed that the FBI investigation was also looking into unlawful activity involved in those bids.
Sepp Blatter announced on June 2 that he will be stepping down from his post as FIFA president just hours after a letter was released that contradicted the organization's claims that a top official was unaware of a $10 million questionable bank transaction that could be related to the buying of a vote in favor of South Africa's bid to host the 2010 World Cup.
