Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid team has vehemently denied offering a bribe to FIFA executive committee members in order to win their votes to host the big event. British MP Tory Damian Collins claimed on Tuesday that two members of the committee, including CAF chairman Issa Hayatou, received $1.5M to vote for the Gulf nation in last year's hosting decision. "We categorically deny these allegations,” a statement from Qatar read. "We have nothing to hide and are prepared to support and cooperate with any further investigations and will be happy to counter any allegations from whistleblowers with real evidence. "The Qatar 2022 bid team ran an historic campaign that changed football," the Qatar statement added. We were beset by rumors and allegations from the outset. "Bidding, like football, is a rough sport. Happily, our promise of bringing football to new lands and expanding its legacies across the developing world compelled FIFA." FIFA response There was another accusation made by former English FA chief Lord Triesman, who claimed that four FIFA executive committee members asked for favors to vote for England's 2018 bid. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke replied saying: "It could have been said before. If it was known, why did it not come to our attention? Why were we not informed?" FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he is shocked by the allegations, but vowed that severe action will be taken against any proven unlawfulness.
