Gary Lineker has laid out his feelings of disgust at the allegations of corruption which have surrounded the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. The BBC presenter and former England striker spoke to British GQ about the bidding process which he was involved with as part of the delegation for England's bid and he certainly he didn't hold back.
I was with David Beckham having a burger the night before the Qatar decision. We were out trying to get support; Prince William and David Cameron were out there, too, and I said to Becks, 'We are the only country doing this. The whole thing smells; it is a done deal'.
It makes you feel sick, actually, the whole Fifa thing, the corruption at the top level is nauseating. Sepp Blatter likewise has run it like a dictatorship for so long and he comes out with so much nonsense.
As with much of the criticism surrounding the awarding of the tournament to Qatar, Lineker also pointed out the obvious drawbacks in hosting a summer tournament in the heat of the Middle East.
Ludicrous. I am not against it going to different parts of the world, but you'd have thought they might have known it would be very hot in summer. You have to be careful what you say, but the corruption is just ... yuck.
When asked outright if he felt FIFA was a corrupt organisation, Lineker didn't mince his words. However, the former Barcelona man was at a loss to see how the situation could change in the immediate future.
Yes, and it is such a shame because it is a massive sport and means so much to so many people. The only way it might change is for the clean countries to turn around and say, 'You know what, we are not taking part in your tournaments'. But I can't see it happening. There is too much at stake.
