Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the Chilean who led the inspection teams for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, has been banned for seven years by FIFA's ethics committee.
In a statement issued on Monday, FIFA said Mayne-Nicholls, formerly head of the Chilean Football Federation, would not be able to take part in 'any kind of football-related activity at national or international level' during these seven years.
Mayne-Nicholls' report questioned Qatar's suitability for hosting the competition due to the 'searing heat and logistical issues' raised by hosting the tournament in one city. But the wealthy state went on to win the hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup finals, The Guardian reports.
Mayne-Nicholls was one of five FIFA officials against whom cases were opened after publication of a controversial summary of the Michael Garcia's report on World Cup bidding.
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