LONDON -- FIFAs decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar came under further scrutiny as a British newspaper published new allegations that Mohamed Bin Hammam used his wealth and top level contacts to buy support for the oil-rich countrys successful bid.
Cheap Jerseys From China . The Sunday Times, which last week claimed that the former FIFA Executive Committee member made payments totalling $5 million to senior football officials to seal support for Qatar, also accused Bin Hammam of using $1.7million to secure key Asian votes. It alleged that Bin Hammam arranged government level talks for Thailands 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 Qatars victories in the votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Under a front-page headline of "Gas deal turns heat on World Cup," the newspaper alleged that Bin Hammam arranged meeting and favours for voters in the months leading to the ballots. The 2010 vote, which awarded footballs biggest tournament to the tiny desert state, is under investigation by FIFAs independent ethics prosecutor. Qatar organizers deny any wrongdoing. In a statement released on Saturday following its Executive Committees second meeting of the year in Sao Paulo, FIFA said "the executive reaffirmed its position of letting the ethics committee complete its work before making any comment." According to the newspaper, which says it had access to millions of secret documents during its investigation, Bin Hammam brokered two secret meetings with Qatari royals to discuss a major gas deal with a senior aide to Makudi. "The exact nature of the deal on the table is unclear, but it came as Thailand sought to save tens of millions of pounds by renegotiating an arrangement with Qatar to purchase 1 million tons of liquefied natural gas each year at a contractual price it considered too high," the newspaper said. The Sunday Times said that Makudi denied that he had received a personal "concession" from his involvement but did not elaborate. Bin Hammam is no longer a committee member of world footballs governing body after being caught up in a corruption scandal surrounding his failed campaign for its presidency in 2011. The Sunday Times claimed that the $1.7 million Bin Hammam paid to Asian officials from funds controlled by his private company Kemco were used as he was campaigning for both the Qatar World Cup bid and for his own re-election to the post of president of the Asian Football Confederation. The newspaper said he was invited to a meeting by Russia to discuss "bilateral relations" in sport between Qatar and Russia on October 30, 2010, a month before the vote on the bids. "Two days later, Qatars ruling emir also flew to Moscow for talks about joint gas production deals between the two countries," the Sunday Times said.
Cheap NFL Jerseys .C. -- If this was Jabari Parkers last home game at Duke, what a farewell it was.
Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is listed as probable to return to the lineup Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after missing the past three games with a high ankle sprain. PHILADELPHIA -- The 76ers have a catchy anthem they play at every home game, a decades-old tune with a chorus the fans belt out: "1-2-3-4-5-Sixers." Now, they can count all the way to 19. The Sixers losing streak goes on, and a dubious franchise-tying skid is just a defeat away. Paul George scored 25 points and David West had 18 to help the Indiana Pacers beat Philadelphia 101-94 on Friday night, sending the 76ers to their 19th straight loss. With a loss to Memphis on Saturday, the Sixers can tie the franchise record for consecutive defeats in a single season. The Sixers lost 20 straight games from Jan. 9, 1973-Feb. 11, 1973 in a 9-73 season. The NBA record for consecutive losses in a season is 26 set by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers. "We need every break we can get if we are going to beat a team," first-year coach Brett Brown said. The Sixers last won on Jan. 29 on Evan Turners buzzer-beater at Boston. Turner was traded to the Pacers at the Feb. 20 deadline and is now a key reserve on a team expected to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Pacers boast Turner, Lavoy Allen and Andrew Bynum, all former Sixers who were expected to turn the franchise into contenders last season. When that plan backfired, the Sixers decided to rebuild, cleaning house of most of their rotation players and set their aim on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Thaddeus Young led the Sixers with 25 points on 10 of 31 shooting and had 10 assists. Unlike the 76ers, the Pacers have tons of talent and the top spot in the East. They raced to a 17-point lead in the first half, then held off a spirited run by the Sixers that saw the lead sliced to five midway through the fourth. The Sixers came up empty on five straight possessions before Young hit two free throws to make it 87-84. Young, the longest-tenured Sixers player, made it 93-90 on a jumper that put them on the brink of ending their losing skid. George, though, hit a tough, driving layup and George Hill buried a baseline 3-pointer for an eight-point cushion, and the Pacers averted the upset. "This game could have easily been a blowout-type of game," George said. "Youve got to give them credit, they kept battling." The PPacers are happy to have the ex-Sixers trio aboard, strengthening a bench that needed some offensive punch.
Wholesale Jerseys. Bynum sat out Friday night to rest his achy knees, the same ailment that cost him all of last season with the Sixers. Hundreds of fans turned out to the National Constitution Center for Bynums public press conference after he was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in an August 2012 trade. He was supposed to be the missing piece for a franchise coming off a run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Bynum was a bust, the first string pulled in the unraveling of a franchise. Bynum had eight points and 10 rebounds in a win Tuesday against Boston -- his first game in nearly 2 1/2 months. "I finally got on the court with him," Turner said. "It was like the 80th-something attempt since I met him. Im glad hes halfway healthy. Had he played (in Philly), we probably would have still been rocking." Bynum wants to be a factor in the post-season, so hell rest against teams like the Sixers. "I need to get game minutes, obviously," said Bynum, Indianas 7-foot centre. "But I dont want to miss four or five consecutive days. The whole point is to stay around and play as many games as possible." Allen scored a season-high 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and Turner had two points. Hill had 14 points and Lance Stephenson had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers. Indiana was 39 of 67 from the floor compared to Philadelphias 35 of 90. "I think were playing some pretty good basketball," George said. Turner, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft, earned a video tribute and a smattering of applause when he checked into the game. Turner was never a difference maker for the Sixers, and his failure to make a significant impact could serve as a scary reminder that team president/general manager Sam Hinkies plan to rebuild through the draft could hit some significant potholes. "Youve got to have a plan," Turner said, "and to do that in Philly takes guts." And a whole lot of losses. Notes: The 76ers signed G Darius Johnson-Odom to a 10-day contract. They also waived G Lorenzo Brown. ... Bynum hopes to play Saturday when the Pacers are at Detroit.
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