Qatar paid $880 million to FIFA, partially before being awarded 2022 World Cup

Sensational reports suggest that Qatar may have offered FIFA hundreds of millions of dollars, to allow them to host the 2022 World Cup.

The Sunday Times has reported that they have access to several leaked documents which reveal a total of $880 million was offered to FIFA by Qatar's representatives, to avail rights to host the global tournament.

The newspaper also breaks down the entire sum into two parts: $400 million paid just 21 days prior to FIFA's announcement that Qatar will host the World Cup 2022, and $480 million paid three years later.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar's Emir who also owns and controls the Qatari-run state broadcasting agency Al Jazeera, is believed to have signed a television contract that involved the initial $400 million. The contract reportedly included a “success fee” of $100m, provided the country emerged victorious from the 2010 World Cup ballot.

“In the event that the 2022 competition is awarded to the state of Qatar, Al Jazeera shall, in addition to the … rights fee, pay to FIFA into the designated account the monetary amount of $100m.” – thus reads the leaked document, as per The Sunday Times.

The newspaper went on to claim that the International football governing body is all set to receive a multi-million-pound payment next month, which will include a portion of the abovementioned success fee.

The second “instalment” of $480 million was supposedly paid three years later, according to the reports. That in turn, makes the overall sum involved a whopping $880 million.

The Sunday Times further alleged that the contracts are now a part of a bribery inquiry by Switzerland police, while it also strengthens the suspicion that Qatar have bought the rights to host one of the World's most popular sporting competitions, instead of proceeding via fair voting.

Meanwhile, FIFA is yet to make a comment on the latest allegations. This is not their first time under the scanner for possible corruption, many noted footballers and footballing administrators like Michel Platini the President of UEFA having called out the international agency on multiple occasions.