The US capital is hosting an anti-Qatar conference this week. The programme is secret and it’s an invitation-only event. The organisers – the Middle East Forum – say that it’s not open to the public, citing security reasons. And lurking in the shadows is Jaimie Fuller, co-founder of New Fifa Now.
By Andreas Selliaas and Pål Ødegård
Photo: Wikipedia/Creative commons
Rome (Josimar). This week European football leaders are gathering in Rome for the 43rd Uefa Congress where Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi controversially is expected to be confirmed as member of the Uefa executive committee as one of two representing the European Club Association (ECA).
It’s controversial because PSG under Al-Khelaïfi’s chairmanship has been creative in avoiding Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, the Football Leaks documents revealed. PSG are now being investigated by Uefa for possible violation of the FFP regulations. Al-Khelaïfi is also under investigation by the Swiss federal police, who suspect he was involved in a bribery scheme including former Fifa secretary general Jérôme Valcke.
Furthermore, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is a Qatari cabinet member without portfolio. In May 2017, deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko was blocked from running for re-election to the Fifa Council after failing to pass an eligibility check. The reason was that he was a minister in the Russian Government, contradicting article 19 and 23 in the Fifa statutes regarding undue influence from third parties.
Friend or foe?
At the same time as the Uefa congress, a secretive conference about Qatar will take place in Washington DC. The Middle East Forum is the organisers of a confe...