“An American spy in the pay of Qatar”
An investigation casts a heavy shadow on the assignment of the 2022 soccer world cup, which would have been the subject of a long and intensive spying action by Qatar. According to an investigation by the Associated Press, the recipient country of the event would have hired a former CIA official, Kevin Chalker, to ensure the success of your application.
In particular, Chalker for years would have monitored competing countries (including Australia and the USA), FIFA officials who in 2010 they assigned the event to Qatar and, in the following years, those who criticized the choice of entrusting the very important event to a nation much discussed for the lack of respect for human rights. The very fact that several government officials decide to work for regimes of this kind once they have finished their assignment in their homeland, writes AP, is of great concern to the American government.
Regime dossiers and propaganda
Chalker did not want to answer AP’s questions on the subject, limiting himself to making it known that, of the hundreds of pages consulted for this investigation, some documents could be false.
The World Cup is scheduled for the winter of 2022 and undoubtedly represents the event (not just sports) of the year. For Qatar it is also a great diplomatic opportunity, in order to clean up an image tainted by some behaviors that disrespect human rights.
Italy is not yet certain to participate in the 2022 World Cup: after the draws against Switzerland and Northern Ireland, the team of Roberto Mancini will have to pass from the playoffs in March, to avoid a painful encore after failing to qualify for the 2018 edition.