British anti-fraud body probes World Cup bids

Britain's anti-fraud organization is probing potential money-laundering offences related to the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, its director told British lawmakers on Tuesday.

"There are outstanding matters which touch upon money-laundering," David Green from the Serious Fraud Office told the British government's Culture, Media and Sport select committee.

"There are a number of matters we are still looking at and digging into."

The SFO cannot pursue scandal-plagued world governing body FIFA under bribery laws, but Green said that it would act if money-laundering was found to have passed through the United Kingdom.

Green said that an alleged $414,100 (375,600 euros) payment made by Australia's unsuccessful bid for the 2022 World Cup to disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner may have passed through London.

"I cannot confirm the assertion that money went through London," he said. "It certainly started off in Sydney and appears to have ended up in Trinidad.

"It could be money-laundering, yes. Whether the money came through London is important."

Green added: "We are still examining issues around possible money laundering and I won't be able to go into detail as new information has come to us quite recently."

Swiss authorities are currently investigating the joint-bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Meanwhile, FIFA and the German Football Federation are looking into claims that Germany's 2006 World Cup bid committee used a 'slush fund' to buy votes. (AFP)