Doha - Arabstoday
Recently, there was a whistleblower regarding the World Cup of 2022 to take place in Qatar, allegedly claiming that Qatar had paid huge bribes during the state’s campaign to host the 2022 World Cup. This whistleblower has now retracted her statement admitting that she had lied about the entire story. \"I have lied about all facts concerning the behavior and practice of the Qatar 2022 Bid,\" said Phaedra Al Majid, a former international media officer for Qatar 2022. \"Never, at any time, were any bribes even offered, suggested or paid on behalf of the Qatar 2022 Bid during any time in exchange for votes from [FIFA Executive Committee members] Issa Hayatou, Jacques Anouma, and Amos Adamu,\" she added in a confession published online. \"These allegations were in full a fabrication on my behalf,\" her statement said. Al Majid said she has now signed a legal affidavit retracting the allegations. \"Never at any time did I wish, nor did I foresee, the extent in which these lies would be projected by the international media - even to the extent that they were presented to the United Kingdom’s Parliamentary Select Committee Inquiry into Football Governance.\" She added that she was \"very sorry for any and all embarrassment caused to the various individuals and authorities concerned.”