Qatar 2022: Bookies slash odds on England hosting next World Cup after Michel Platini arrest
The former France and Juventus forward was arrested on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation to award the tournament to Qatar
Bookmakers have slashed the odds on Qatar being stripped of hosting the World Cup in 2022.
According to Coral, England have gone from 10-1 to 6-1 to host it instead following Michel Platini's arrest.
Former UEFA president Platini was detained for questioning by French police over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to the small Gulf state.
Platini, who has never denied voting for Qatar but has always rejected any claims of wrongdoing, was detained in a suburb of Paris on Tuesday morning.
“Since it was awarded the 2022 World Cup, there has been nothing but controversy around why Qatar were selected as hosts and following this latest development, the betting suggests there is a strong chance they could now be stripped of the tournament,” said Coral’s John Hill.
“If a new host is required, England are likely to be one of the favourites as they are one of the few countries who could hold the tournament at short notice with their infrastructure and transport."
The Parquet National Financier has been investigating the December 2010 decision to stage football's biggest tournament in the wealthy Qatar since 2016.
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Qatar beat bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States in a vote by the executive committee of world football's governing body FIFA, but more than half of that 22-man panel have now been accused of receiving bribes.
Platini was head of European football's governing body until 2015 when he was handed an eight-year ban over ethics breaches that was later reduced to four years on appeal.
The ban expires this October and he has previously suggested he intends to return to football politics.