FIFA reject FFA bid for World Cup compensation

World Football’s governing body claims that ‘there are no grounds’ for compensation to the losing bidders and dismissed the notion that a winter World Cup would be problematic

 

FIFA has rejected Football Federation Australia’s proposition that they be compensated after failing in their bid to win the rights to host the 2022 World Cup.

FFA chairman Frank Lowy claimed on Monday that staging the showpiece event during the winter months as to avoid the searing heat of the summer would prove to be problematic and would risk “making a bad situation worse”.

And despite growing speculation that the World Cup would be moved the winter months, FIFA’s spokeswoman has quashed the notion that losing bidder, Australia and the United States of America, would be compensated.

“As part of the bidding documents all bidders, including the FA Australia, accepted that the format and dates of the staging of the Fifa World Cup and Fifa Confederations Cup, though initially expected to be in June/July, remains subject to the final decision of the Fifa Organising Committee,” she told the Guardian.

 

“There is no ground for any speculations.”

Last month, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke was quoted as saying “no, no, no” when asked about the prospect of compensating the losing bidders or professional leagues, broadcasters and sponsors who will most likely be affected by the move.

It has been confirmed that an executive meeting has been confirmed for October 3, with this very topic expected to feature prominently in their upcoming discussions.

Follow Cronan on Twitter: @Cronan_Yu

 

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