THE current furore over the 2022 World Cup planned for Qatar is in danger of overwhelming the games that will begin in Brazil in just over a week’s time.

And while accusations of corruption should be investigated, it is a pity that the timing of the leaked documents revealed in a Sunday newspaper has been when it is.

The World Cup in Brazil already faces challenges, with the threat of disruption from some members of the local area who see the games as an expensive sideshow to their difficult lives.

For the players who are heading out to represent England, Saints players amongst them, talk of corruption and bribery involving the cup is a distraction they do not need.

Perhaps however all this was inevitable, given the huge sums of money now involved in the so-called beautiful game.

Where there are pots of gold, those who wish to take their share through means less than fair are never far away.

It is to be hoped that the World Cup in Brazil is a resounding success and that FIFA uses the boost to encourage its members to clean up any corruption before the next games in Moscow.

That may be a forlorn hope, but like the game itself, we can never tell what will happen until the final whistle.