About
News UK
– Unquiet Film Series shines spotlight on Qatar 2022 investigation –
The latest instalment of the Unquiet Film Series uncovers the timely truth behind June’s ‘FIFA Files’ investigation by The Sunday Times – unearthing the secret payments that helped Qatar win the World Cup bid.
Following the latest decision that Qatar will not face any FIFA sanctions and keep hold of the tournament, the short film The FIFA Files exposes the level of dedication the Insight Team went through to expose the unlikely victory.
Jonathan Calvert, Insight Editor at The Sunday Times, comments
We knew it was a good story, and we knew it was an important story. From a country with no existing football stadium infrastructure, no tradition of playing football, a dangerously hot climate and poor working conditions – there was shock the moment it was announced.
We have put so much hard work and dedication into bringing the truth to light that we’re going to keep going on and on making sure that this is still in the public domain. We’re really determined on this story.
The thousands of documents leaked led a trail to Qatar’s top football official Mohamed Bin Hammam in a covert campaign to secure the right to host the 2022 tournament. Following the exclusive scandal that ran on June 1st 2014 in the paper, the Qatar 2022 organising committee distanced itself from its countryman, saying he had no connection with its bid.
From director Will Clarek:
The Insight team at The Sunday Times is an investigative unit which was originally set up in 1963. Over the last 50 years, it has exposed many big scandals, including Kim Philby’s spying at MI6, the thalidomide controversy, the secret manufacture of nuclear weapons by Israel and the current FIFA cash for votes scandal.
The FIFA cash for votes story is incredible in its scale and depth. I wanted to talk to the journalists behind the story, to know what the risks and implications were when taking on an organisation as vast and powerful as FIFA. I also wanted to show that the Insight Team is only two individuals, but two that have the enthusiasm, dedication and the tenacity to take on a governing body that persistently refuse to admit that it might be in the wrong.
The Unquiet Film Series is a collection of films celebrating the historical and cultural impact of The Times (est. 1785) and The Sunday Times (est. 1822) newspapers, crafted by some of the very best filmmakers through unprecedented access to 229 years of archive material. All films are online at ForeverUnquiet.co.uk.
The project is the result of a collaboration between News UK, Team News creative agency Grey London, production company Betsy Works and Creative and Commercials Director, Phil Lind.
