http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/story/1868185/report-qatar-paid-$17-million-for-asian-votes
And the sponsors are not happy
FIFA's decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar came under further scrutiny as The Sunday Times published new allegations that Mohamed Bin Hammam used his wealth and top level contacts to buy support for the oil-rich country's successful bid.
The newspaper, which last week claimed that the former FIFA Executive Committee member made payments totaling $5 million to senior football officials to seal support for Qatar, also accused Bin Hammam of using $1.7 million to secure key Asian votes.
It alleged that Bin Hammam arranged government level talks for Thailand's FIFA executive Worawi Makudi to discuss a gas sale "potentially worth tens of millions of dollars to Thailand'' and that he was invited to visit Vladimir Putin before Russia and Qatar's victories in the votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
And the sponsors are not happy
On Sunday, four of FIFA's top-tier sponsors - among six who will pay a collective $700 million over four years toward this World Cup - spoke out about persistent corruption allegations.
"The negative tenor of the public debate around FIFA at the moment is neither good for football nor for FIFA and its partners," said Adidas, the World Cup ball provider since 1970.
Visa called on FIFA to "maintain strong ethical standards and operate with transparency."
"Anything that detracts from the mission and ideals of the FIFA World Cup is a concern to us," Coca-Cola said in a statement, "but we are confident that FIFA is taking these allegations very seriously and is investigating them thoroughly."
A fourth, Sony, called for all claims to be "investigated appropriately."
FIFA's marketing director Thierry Weil said it had constant contact with commercial partners.
"Our sponsors have not requested anything that is not covered by the ongoing investigation by the ethics committee," Weil said in a FIFA statement.