Allegations of corruption have surrounded the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup, which was hosted by RussiaThe US Department of Justice (DOJ) has published claims that a former FIFA President was bribed by a "Russian oligarch" to ensure Russia won the right to host the 2018 World Cup. Allegations of corruption and collusion have surrounded the bidding process for both the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 tournament, which was awarded to Qatar. The DOJ report read: "In July 2011, Steele provided a report that summarised an alleged conversation between then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in which, according to the report, Putin acknowledged that a Russian oligarch had bribed the President of FIFA so that Russia could win the right to host the World Cup tournament in 2018. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is not named in the report, but was in the role at the time of the vote in 2010. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has previously claimed that an agreement was in place to hold the 2018 World Cup in Russia before the vote in 2010 took placeBlatter previously claimed in 2015 that an agreement was put in place for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup before the 2010 vote took place.

Source: Sky sports December 10, 2019 09:22 UTC