Hassan al-Thawadi is the boss of the World Cup. He brought the tournament to Qatar and now heads the Supreme Committee that organizes the World Cup. Now, two weeks before kick-off in Doha, al-Thawadi is at the center of a scandal. According to research by “SRF Investigativ”, he led a large-scale espionage campaign against FIFA.
The operation’s code name was an announcement: “Merciless.” That’s what the Qataris called the program they used for years to spy on senior officials of the world football governing body. With the help of ex-CIA agents, they tapped email accounts and telephones, wiretapped hotel rooms – even FIFA people’s circle of friends and family would have been spied on. The aim was to prevent Qatar from losing the World Cup again because of the massive criticism of the country.
SonntagsBlick illuminates Qatari network: The fact that al-Thawadi was involved in the spy operation is explosive. The World Cup boss is not only in contact with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, he even runs a FIFA company himself.
Al-Thawadi chairs the board of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, a joint venture between Qatar and the governing body of world football. 51 percent of the company’s shares are owned by FIFA.
The company is largely responsible for tournament operations, FIFA said, including responsibility for “team services, training facilities, volunteers, guest management, logistics, catering and accreditation”.
No response from FIFA
In his capacity as head of the company, al-Thawadi works directly with senior FIFA executives. The nine-strong management team includes: Fatma Samoura, General Secretary of the governing body of world football and thus the second highest-ranking FIFA official behind Gianni Infantino, Zvonimir Boban, Deputy General Secretary, League Director Colin Smith and Emilio Garcia Silvero, Head of Legal department .
With al-Thawadi, FIFA has a spy in its ranks. And what does the governing body of world football do? As usual, he is silent. The media agency remained silent at SonntagsBlick’s request.
First of all, questions arise: is FIFA keeping quiet about the scandal because they want to protect the Qataris? Theo Zwanziger, former president of the German Football Association and a member of the powerful FIFA Executive Committee until 2015, strongly suspects it: “It’s such a scandal. Those responsible should take it up. FIFA president Infantino first. But he does.” of course not because he is a vassal of Qatar.”
Infantino is at home in Qatar
Zwanziger himself is a victim of the espionage operation. In an interview with the “NZZ” on Friday, he says: “I didn’t notice anything. That’s the perfidious thing about all this. Because as soon as you notice something, you can defend yourself.” He is not surprised that FIFA is silent: “As we all know, there is nothing to expect from this side. President Infantino has since moved his residence to Qatar and has been taken hostage by those in power there. »
At the beginning of this year, SonntagsBlick announced that the FIFA president now largely lives in Doha and has also sent two of his daughters to school there. Another testament to the unwholesome proximity of the governing body of world football to the emirate’s sheikhs.
The fact that WM boss al-Thawadi is reportedly personally involved in the spy operation may come as a surprise to some. Ex-Fifa president Sepp Blatter once said of him: “If I were still with FIFA, I would immediately hire Hassan. He has a human charisma and is an asset to this World Cup.” Blatter has since changed his mind. Because the Qatari were also behind his former adviser, the Swiss Peter Hargitay. Like Blatter, he is a fierce critic of the World Cup in the desert state.
Blatter told SRF this week: “I was surprised that there was an organized spy affair in FIFA.” It’s worrying.
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