Former leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron MP has today demanded the UK Government lobby FIFA for an independent investigation into Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid.

It comes after The Sunday Times reported from leaked documents that Qatar secretly offered $400m to Fifa just 21 days before world football’s governing body awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said:

“Revelations of bribery and foul play have yet again brought world football into disrepute. They must be shown the red card.

“While FIFA point to an earlier investigation into the Qatar bid, the organisation has so far failed to restore public confidence following years of corruption.

“An independent investigation is therefore the only proper action the public will accept. History, however, tells us this will not happen without pressure.

“The Prime Minister must therefore instruct government ministers to urgently meet with FIFA in a bid to secure their agreement for an independent investigation.”