2014 WAS ANOTHER tough year for the Qatari World Cup committee, with a FIFA ethics report meant to put corruption allegations surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to bed instead complicating matters. Earlier in the year, Thawadi was also forced to categorically deny that Qatar bought the World Cup following allegations in the UK’s Telegraph. As ever, it is up to Al Thawadi to overcome Qatar’s negative press and show the world the country is capable of hosting the largest sporting event the Middle East has ever seen.