Friday 19 December 2014 17:56, UK
UEFA president Michael Platini has called on FIFA to publish Michael Garcia’s report into the World Cup bidding process as soon as possible.
FIFA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) agreed that Garcia’s report would be made public – but not in full, with some sections likely to be withheld for legal reasons.
Platini says FIFA must publish the report quickly, or risk its credibility.
Garcia’s led the investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments, won by Russia and Qatar respectively.
A summary of his report was released in November, but Garcia complained it contained serious inaccuracies and omissions.
Let us hope that the report can now be published as quickly as possible. The credibility of FIFA depends on it.
He formally appealed against the summary, and when this was rejected on Wednesday, the American resigned.
FIFA agreed on Friday, however, to publish a redacted report, a move which Platini said was “a step in the right direction,” though the Frenchman says FIFA must make it available quickly.
He said: "It was important that the FIFA executive committee decided today to publish the Garcia report. I have always battled for transparency and this is a step in the right direction.
“Let us hope that the report can now be published as quickly as possible. The credibility of FIFA depends on it."
Jerome Champagne, who will challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency at the world governing body’s next elections, agrees with Platini that speed is now of the essence.
“I was one of those calling for the report to be released. Now it has to be released quickly. We cannot wait more,” he told Sky Sports News HQ.
“It has been four years and close to 20 days that we have been living in this climate of allegations.”
