French prosecutors seek trial for four people over Qatar World Cup bid

French prosecutors have asked for four people to stand trial in the Qatargate case, which examines alleged corruption linked to Qatar’s successful campaign to host the 2022 World Cup.

The request came from France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, known by its French initials PNF. French authorities are investigating suspected corruption during the maneuvering that preceded the final vote in December 2010. According to information reported by Le Monde, the PNF formally sought the trials on Aug. 27.

Among those named is Reynald Temarii, a Tahitian former president of the Oceania Football Confederation and former FIFA vice president. Prosecutors also identified Mohamed Bin Hammam, the Qatari billionaire who played a central role in the country’s campaign and electoral strategy to secure the tournament.

The case centers on money that Bin Hammam allegedly provided to Temarii to cover his legal defense and an appeal after FIFA’s ethics committee suspended him. The suspension followed an investigation by the British newspaper The Sunday Times. French investigators are examining whether those financial movements could have affected votes in the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar.