The regional head of the British Center for Middle East Studies claims Qatar bribed 8 Ecuador players to lose the opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup

The regional director of the British Center for Middle East Studies, Amjad Taha (@amjadt25), claimed on Thursday that Qatar paid eight Ecuadorian players $7.4 million to lose the opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

According to him, the Qataris offered the Ecuadorians that they would let them win 0:1 with a goal in the second half in exchange for a transfer fee. The tournament will begin on November 20 at the Al Bayt stadium with a match between Qatar and Ecuador.

Marc Owen Jones @marcowenjones, an Associate Professor @HBKU refuted Taha’s report, He said that Taha is an unreliable source who knowingly disseminates false information. Up till now, no one has verified Taha’s allegations, and neither the government nor the Qatar Football Federation has commented on the facts.