FFA cleared and in turn sues
The Football Federation Australia (FFA) has been cleared of corruption allegations to its bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Corruption allegations
The Fairfax news group had alleged that the FFA bid team had tried to hide the use of millions of dollars in government funding, according to Yahoo Sports. The same report said that Fairfax claimed that the FFA had sought to hide the allocation of millions for lobbyist fees, gifts, bribery grants and free travel for FIFA executives. Yahoo Sports stated that the allegations also included that the FFA was keeping two separate balance sheets (one that was falsified and one that showed the true allocation of funds).
In response to these accusations the FFA vehemently defended its conduct. Stating that it had done nothing wrong and, according to Yahoo Sports, the gifting of pear necklaces to FIFA executive wives was in line with custom to hand symbolic gifts to visiting delegations.
Defamation
However, the Australian government has now cleared the FFA after an investigation of the corruption allegations according to Yahoo Sports.
In response to its name being cleared of wrongdoing the FFA has commenced defamation proceeding against The Age, according to The Age. Part of the Fairfax news group, The Age had published the allegations but insisted that it gave the FFA a chance to provide info and comment at all stages of their report.