FIFA dismisses secret whistleblowers' complaints

Cape Town - The FIFA disciplinary panel has dismissed complaints by two whistleblowers who were interviewed during the 2018-2022 World Cup bid investigation.

FIFA says panel chairman Claudio Sulser ruled that the whistleblowers' "breach of confidentiality claim had no substance."

The FIFA statement did not identify Phaedra Almajid, a former Qatar bid staffer, and Bonita Mersiades, who worked for the Australia campaign.

Both worked in communications for their countries' 2022 bids and left before the December 2010 vote.

Sulser ruled that both women "had gone public with their own media activities long before" FIFA ethics judge Joachim Eckert's investigation summary was published last month. Eckert's report also did not name them.

FIFA says ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia advised Sulser that the complaints "were without merit."