FIFA slap seven-year ban on former Chile FA boss for breaching confidentiality in bidding process for 2018 and 2022 World Cups

FIFA have slapped a seven-year ban on former Chilean FA boss Harold Mayne-Nicholls after finding him complicit in his work as the chairman of the commission which assessed bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The 54-year-old was found to have asked for personal favours while working to compile an assessment report which shaped the voting pattern for awarding the two tournaments which was won by Russia and Qatar.

According to leaked e-mail from FIFA’s Chief Ethics investigator Cornel Borbely, Mayne-Nicholls “repeatedly asked for personal favours — including special treatment for family members” before producing his final assessment report.

He is also alleged to have asked for places for his son and nephew in the prestigious Aspire Academy in Qatar plus tennis coaching opportunities for his brother-in-law.

Mayne-Nicholls’ repeated requests were however not granted when he contacted Andreas Bleicher, Aspire’s executive director of international affairs, according to the leaked email from Borbely to Mayne-Nicholls on November 12.

The evaluation report which eventually came out gave Qatar the worst ranking but the oil-rich state managed to win the vote to host the 2022 World Cup.

A FIFA statement to confirm the ban on Monday read: “The adjudicatory chamber of the independent ethics committee, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert, has decided to ban Harold Mayne-Nicholls, former chairman of the Bid Evaluation Group for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and former Chilean Football Association president, from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level for a period of seven years.

“The decision was taken following a hearing in the presence of the accused and the chairman of the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee, Dr Cornel Borbely.

“In accordance with article 36 of the FIFA code of ethics, more detailed information will be given after this final decision becomes effective.”

The banned former Chilean FA boss has however already served notice he will be contesting the punishment.

“I’m surprised FIFA have advertised a sanction that has pending appeals, and may be overridden by higher judicial bodies,” he posted on Twitter.

“I will appeal to the higher courts established in FIFA statutes and TAS/CAS.”