Report: FIFA 'ignored' terror alert over Qatar 2022 World Cup bid
A rendering of the Doha Port stadium to be used in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (Getty Images)
Soccer's governing body found that Qatar was a "high risk" target for terrorist attacks during the tournament, according to a security briefing ordered by FIFA less than a month before the nation won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup, according to a report in the Sunday Times.
According to the story in the Sunday Times, FIFA members "ignored its own terror alert" in choosing Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.
Andre Pruis, who was in charge of security at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, wrote the report, saying, "The terrorism threat against Qatar relates to its location -- its proximity to countries with inter alia (among other issues) an al-Qaeda presence."
SI STAFF: World Cup Daily Recap: Messi magic, Swiss heroics, goal-line technology
More from the Sunday Times:
In documents obtained by the newspaper, Pruis acknowledged he only had time for a "very limited threat assessment", based largely on US anti-terrorism information.
In view of the risks related to the centralised approach, Qatar is allocated a risk rating of high," he said.
"I am of the view that it would be very difficult to deal with a major incident in such an environment without having to cancel the event."
RELATED: Qatar's 2022 World Cup Bid |
