Speaking at a press conference in Zurich today, Blatter confirmed the report would remain confidential, adding: "I am not speaking on this matter because it is a legal matter".

The report into the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 edition to Qatar, was handed into FIFA earlier this month and was discussed today during the second day of the world governing body's Executive Committee meeting at its headquarters in Zurich.

American Michael Garcia has led the year-long investigation into the bidding process for both World Cups and had stressed the need to ease confidentiality rules which are set to keep his 350-page report under wraps.

"I believe it is now necessary for the FIFA Executive Committee to authorise the appropriate publication of the report," said Garcia earlier this week.

Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, who is President of the Jordan Football Association and West Asian Football Federation, also called for the findings to be made public as has fellow FIFA vice-presidents Jim Boyce and Jeffrey Webb.

That was followed yesterday by UEFA President Michel Platini lending his support for the report to be made public.

Frenchman Platini, who had backed Qatar's bid for the 2022 World Cup, has made it known he is in favour of disclosing as much of the report as possible.

Platini recently announced his decision not to run for FIFA President next year, while compatriot and former FIFA deputy secretary general Jérôme Champagne, who is set to run in the Presidential elections against incumbent Blatter - who today officially confirmed his bid for a fifth term - also wants the report findings to be made public.

FIFA Ethics Committee chairman Hans-Joachim Eckert has already said that the findings of the report will not be published ©AFP/Getty Images





However, German judge, Hans-Joachim Eckert, who is chairman of FIFA's Ethics Committee and will be handing out any sanctions that may arise, has previously stated the report will "never" be published when he reveals his final decisions next April.

Speaking after today's Executive Committee meeting, FIFA lawyer Marco Villiger said: "Confidentiality is entrenched in the Code of Ethics."

The Qatar 2022 bid committee is facing claims of corruption after The Sunday Times alleged in June that former FIFA vice-president Mohamed bin Hammam paid £3 million ($5 million/€4 million) to football officials around the world in return for support for the bid.

Qatar 2022 strongly denies the allegations.

During today's press conference Blatter, 78, also refused to reveal whether he had returned the commemorative watches given to some FIFA members by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) during this year's World Cup, describing the controversy as a "non-problem".

It emerged earlier this month that the CBF gave the watches - worth around $26,000 (£16,000/€20,000) - as gifts to the 28-strong FIFA Executive Committee, along with a representative from each of the 32 Member Associations competing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and a representative from each of the 10 Member Associations in the South American Football Confederation.

FIFA's Ethics Committee prohibits any gifts of more than "symbolic or trivial value" and has ordered all 65 watches to be returned by October 24, or face disciplinary proceedings.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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