New claims of corruption in the bidding to host World Cup 2018 and 2022 allege that Russia and Qatar were involved in a bilateral gas deal in exchange for votes, the Sunday Times reports. Russia also allegedly gifted some of its national art collection, including a painting purported to be a Picasso, to Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) President and FIFA executive member Michel Platini as a part of its bid for 2018. The report also reveals England’s World Cup officials hired ex-MI6 agents to spy on rivals in the bidding process and created a secret database of information.
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