Platini rubbishes Picasso painting bribe claims
Print Edition
UEFA President Michel Platini said that reports that he was given a Picasso painting in return for voting for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup were “totally fictitious.”
Rupert Murdoch-owned British newspaper The Sunday Times claims to have access to a database of allegations compiled by the failed English bid team for the 2018 World Cup.
The newspaper claimed that Platini was given a painting, believed to be a Picasso, as part of a bid to secure his vote.
“I’d like to point out that the Sunday Times allegations are totally fictitious and the newspaper themselves admit that they don’t have any proof to support this ridiculous rumor,” Platini said.
“This affair is now in the hands of my legal advisers in case of any eventual defamation case.”
The newspaper made a variety of other claims including that Russian President Vladimir Putin enlisted FIFA President Sepp Blatter to help lobby for votes and that Qatar used its influence in the natural gas industry to secure votes through bilateral trade deals.
Both Russia and Qatar, which won the rights to host the 2022 World Cup, were cleared of any wrong-doing following an independent inquiry.
“Our opinion is this report isn’t in relation to Qatar, as a lot of people make it sound,” Nasser al Khater, member of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, told reporters in Manila. “The report, I understand, they are looking at certain individuals. I’m pretty sure people are feeling tired of this story already, I think there is reader fatigue in terms of this story.
“I think the same stuff is being regurgitated so many times people are questioning the motive now, not the story.”
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