Probe into Qatari World Cup bid puts Sarkozy under scrutiny

Criminal investigations into Qatar's World Cup bid said former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy may have been involved as a central figure in ensuring Paris and other European nations supported the campaign as claims of bribes circulate.

Investigators are allegedly looking into whether or not Sarkozy received or negotiated payments at the time of Qatar's winning World Cup bid in 2022.

The campaign has already been marred by multiple inquiries, one of which brought about the dismissal of former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter after he was implicated in the corruption probe.

Officers had reportedly begun examining several deals, including the purchase of a French utility firm by Qatari outfit Diar, the state-owned investment company.

Even French football club Paris Saint-Germain, owned by Oryx Qatar Sports Investments, is being investigated as according to Paul Hayward of The Daily Telegraph, the transfer of Barcelona's star forward Neymar Jr is, "less about football and more about politics."

The former president has close links with several executives, both current and former at Veolia, which sold PSG to Qatar in 2010.

Investigators want to know where €182m paid to Veolia went, as they believe it "may have been siphoned off the sidelines."

They are also looking into a meeting held between Sarkozy, Michel Platini and Qatari officials 10 days before the vote at Elysee Palace where Qatar allegedly agreed to purchase PSG.

Imports to the host nation of the 2022 World Cup are down almost 40% after Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain all cut diplomatic ties with the country in July, as the four countries put several individuals and groups from Qatar on a terrorist watch list.

A spokeswoman for the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office said, there was no established link between the two inquiries as yet, and Mr Sarkozy was not "formally and personally targeted at this stage."