'It was all lies,' says Qatar 2022 whistleblower

Sepp Blatter retained his position as FIFA president after bribery allegations forced his opposition out of this year's elections. Photo: Getty.

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The whistleblower who alleged Qatar had paid huge brides during the Gulf state's campaign to host the 2022 World Cup has retracted the story, admitting it was all lies.

"I have lied about all facts concerning the behaviour and practice of the Qatar 2022 Bid," said Phaedra Al Majid, a former international media officer for Qatar 2022.

"Never, at any time, were any bribes even offered, suggested or paid on behalf of the Qatar 2022 Bid during any time in exchange for votes from [FIFA Executive Committee members] Issa Hayatou, Jacques Anouma, and Amos Adamu," she added in a confession published online.

"These allegations were in full a fabrication on my behalf," her statement said.

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Al Majid said she has now signed a legal affadavit retracting the allegations.

"Never at any time did I wish, nor did I foresee, the extent in which these lies would be projected by the international media - even to the extent that they were presented to the United Kingdom’s Parliamentary Select Committee Inquiry into Football Governance."

She added that she was "very sorry for any and all embarrassment caused to the various individuals and authorities concerned".

"I was very proud to work on behalf of the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee and have no doubt that the country will stage an outstanding, ground-breaking and highly successful World Cup," Al Majid's statement said.

This apology was accompanied by a sworn affidavit setting out a statement of events to the Qatar 2022 Bid, FIFA and other football authorities.

"I also wish to state that the decision to make this admission is entirely my own: I have not been subject to any form of pressure or been offered any financial inducement to do so," she said.

Originally made anonymously to journalists, the claims became the subject of an inquiry by the parliamentary select committee for culture, media and sport.

She told the BBC that she made the claims as part of a revenge campaign for losing her job with the Qatar 2022 Bid team.

Al Majid originally said African Football Confederation president Issa Hayatou, Ivory Coast Fifa member Jacques Anomua and Nigeria's suspended exco official Amos Adamu were paid $1.5million to vote for Qatar.

The allegations were denied by all three men.

She was then invited to back up her claims in a meeting with Fifa president Sepp Blatter but no meeting ever took place.