FIFA bans former World Cup evaluation committee head

Former Chilean FA president Mayne-Nicholls (Photo from Euro Sport/Yahoo Sport)

ZURICH – FIFA has handed a seven-year ban to its former head of their bid evaluation committee for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups for “confidentiality” breaches.

Football’s world governing body Monday banned Mayne-Nicholls, 54, “from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level for a period of seven years,” a statement said.

No details were revealed as FIFA said the suspension came after a breach of a confidentiality rule in FIFA’s code of ethics.

Mayne-Nicholls, a former Chilean FA president, wrote the report that gave Qatar the worst ranking of the candidates for the 2022 World Cup finals which the wealthy Gulf state went on to win.

Mayne-Nicholls confirmed he would appeal the suspension.