FIFA Saturday reported that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 games played during the period between November 20 and December 18, were free of any manipulation as per the conclusion of the investigations by multi-stakeholder Integrity Task Force.
FIFA stated that the Integrity Task Force established by FIFA to monitor all matches played during the FIFA World Cup 2022 for match-manipulation incidents and integrity-related issues successfully completed its work on Thursday with its conclusion of no cases having been identified during its investigations, concluding that no manipulation has taken place in any of the matches during the tournament.
The Integrity Task Force analysed all monitoring reports of legal betting markets, conducted multi-jurisdictional inquiries, and reviewed surveillance of competition venues for any suspicious behaviour. No match manipulation threats to any game that was played during the tournament were detected.
FIFA indicated that it will continue to work with members of the Integrity Task Force to protect all its upcoming tournaments, starting with the FIFA 2023 Women's World Cup, and will continue to develop integrity strategies with its continental and national federations and other actors to combat match manipulation.
Qatar made its mark in the history of football and international sports, with the successful organising of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 , with this edition being the first for an Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern country to host this great global event.
As the tournament came to an end, it became evident that what International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino reiterated at every opportunity was an irrefutable truth -- that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was the best-ever in the history of the championship.
It also proved that an Arab country was not only able to win the bid but capable of making this edition of the World Cup a source of pride for FIFA, Qatar, and all the people of the region. Despite the discordant and hateful voices and the systematic criticism and slander, fans from all over the world unanimously attested the Qatar World Cup an unforgettable experience and the best ever in the history of the tournament.
Since the first match between host Qatar and Ecuador was kicked off at the Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, until the final between Argentina and France at the iconic Lusail stadium on December 18, fans enjoyed every moment of the game and it is estimated that about 5 billion people watched the tournament worldwide.
As the most compact World Cup, fans were able to watch up to four matches a day in the initial stages. It also meant that teams and fans were not required to travel long distances nor to make multiple accommodation and transport arrangements. Meticulous planning also ensured a safe and smooth flow of movement and events. Qatar 2022 also turned out to be the safest World Cup ever, with no major crime reported during the entire course of the tournament.
Though the Qatar team could not impress with its performance on the ground, the host nation won the hearts of all the players, fans and visitors by rolling out the legendary Arab hospitality.
Wonderful at all Levels
The coach of the French football club Paris Saint-Germain Christophe Galtier, praised the impressive organizational success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which concluded last Sunday. "We watched the wonderful Qatar 2022 World Cup," Galtier said in an interview with Paris Saint-Germain club website. "It was a great success, and I was lucky to spend some days in Doha, where I watched several matches." He added, "It was a very organized World Cup at a distinguished level, with many surprises. It was a special period during which I was able to spend time with my family, watch matches at a very high level, and follow our international players who participated in the World Cup."
