Australia's World Cup bid 'as dirty' as any other nation
"In FIFA it's a dirty game altogether," the official allegedly says. Source: AFP
SECRET tapes allegedly expose a shonky FIFA official telling an undercover reporter Australia was as "dirty" as any nation bidding to host soccer's World Cup.
The Oceania region official is allegedly taped claiming Australia's soccer chief, Frank Lowy, got Canberra officials to do his bidding - and claiming Canberra gave AusAid to Oceania in return for its support at the ballot in Geneva.
But it all went humiliatingly wrong for Australia, which scored just one vote in its $45 million attempt to host the 2022 World Cup finals.
The tapes were recorded by a reporter from Britain's Sunday Times who was sent to New Zealand posing as a lobbyist.
The official allegedly says the Rudd government splurged $8 million on soccer in the Pacific to secure Oceania's support.
He allegedly says: "Australia (FFA) have never given us anything. What they did was they pushed the Rudd government because Frank Lowy won't ever spend a dime. He gets other people to do his spending for him.
"That's how Lowy (Australia's bid leader) was able to get us $8 million through the Australian government. It's direct assistance to football in Oceania.
"They are playing dirty tricks as much as any other person is. In FIFA it's a dirty game altogether.
"The Rudd government signed a three-year assistance to regional football deal with $8 million through AusAID."
The official was suspended by FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, after his comments in relation to England's failed 2018 bid were splashed across the Sunday Times.
A spokesman for the Federal Government said $4 million had been allocated to youth soccer in the Pacific.
He insisted the money was not related to the bid.
"The football-related assistance announced at the 2009 Pacific Islands Forum is to fund activities for six to 12-year-olds in schools in nine Pacific countries to promote girls' roles, healthier lifestyles and the value of education," he said.
"This is part of a broader package of $26 million of sport for development assistance that also included support for netball, rugby league, rugby union and cricket.
"From an aid perspective, any support for football - or any sport - must contribute to effective development.
"AusAID ensures that internationally agreed development principles guide ... all of Australia's sports development assistance. AusAID works with partner country organisations and supports local needs and priorities."
FFA declined to answer specific questions about whether AusAid money should be used in promoting soccer or the World Cup bid.
FFA also declined to address the allegations, but said in a statement: "Football Federation Australia rejects absolutely any suggestion that it has acted contrary to the letter or spirit of FIFA guidelines governing the World Cup bid process, or inappropriately in any way."
