Jerome Champagne: FIFA World Cup investigation report should be public
FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne tweeted his support Thursday for the release of an investigative report on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes.
The FIFA investigatory chamber recently completed its ethics investigation into the awarding of the two tournaments and submitted a report of its findings on Sept. 5. The 2018 World Cup was awarded to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
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The lead investigator, Michael Garcia, had been looking into alleged corruption during the process. Garcia is in favor of releasing the report to the public, while the judge whom he submitted the report to is against it.
"Fully supporting Michael Garcia's request to release his investigation report on WC 2018 and 2022," Champagne tweeted. "It is essential to protect the sanctity of the World Cup as a celebration of football and of our universality. It will contribute to the efforts to reconcile FIFA with the football lovers around the globe."
The judge, Joachim Eckert, recently said that the verdict will not be made public until next spring.
Last week, Champagne confirmed his intentions to run against current FIFA president Sepp Blatter for the position in 2015.
- Molly Geary
