FIFA confirmed receipt of a formal appeal from the chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, Michael Garcia, to the FIFA Appeal Committee about the decision to clear Qatar and Russia to host the 2022 and 2018 World Cups.
FIFA issued a statement on Friday distancing itself from the report published by Joachim Eckert, the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA's independent ethics committee, after Eckert said he would speak with American investigator Michael Garcia, who rejected Eckert's report on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid contests as "incomplete and erroneous.''
Garcia had said on Thursday he would appeal to FIFA against Eckert's decision to close the case against winning bidders Russia and Qatar, dramatically exposing a divide between the two colleagues.
"It is important to reiterate that FIFA is not in a position to interpret the statements and assessments made by the independent Ethics Committee," FIFA said in a statement. "The Ethics Committee is independent from FIFA and contains two separate chambers that mirror the system of justice in many countries with an investigatory chamber independent from the adjudicatory chamber.
"In line with this independence, FIFA does not have any influence over the writing of investigatory reports nor over the findings of any investigations. In terms of the recommendations of the Ethics Committee, these will be carefully considered and assessed by FIFA.
"Regarding media reports about a potential appeal by Michael J. Garcia, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, FIFA can today confirm receipt of his intention to appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
"Further information on the appeal procedure is available in art. 80 of the FIFA Code of Ethics and art. 119ff. of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. Taking into consideration that the deadline to submit reasons for the appeal is on-going, FIFA is not in a position to comment further for the time-being."
German judge Eckert declined to discuss further conflict between the two men over a case which will do much to define FIFA's ability and willingness to improve its scandal-scarred image.
In an interview with the BBC, Eckert said he was "surprised, not shocked'' at Garcia's reaction.
"I'm a long time in the job here. I don't think anything surprises me," said the lawyer, who has judged cases for 36 years in Munich.
Eckert, who based his report on Garcia's confidential investigation, cleared Russia and Qatar to continue preparing as hosts despite acknowledging some wrongdoing in their bids. All but one of the nine bid candidates were linked by the investigation to some unethical behaviour ahead of the December 2010 votes by FIFA's Executive Committee.
"In particular, the effects of these occurrences on the bidding process as a whole were far from reaching any threshold that would require returning to the bidding process, let alone reopening it,'' Eckert summarised.
The judge seemed to require a criminal burden of proof, while at the same time acknowledging Garcia was hampered by lacking power to subpoena witnesses and evidence.
Adding to his reputation for caution and leniency in FIFA cases, Eckert declined to identify officials whom Garcia implicated and wants publicly named along with details of the charges they face.
Eckert also praised Sepp Blatter but left out Garcia's criticism of the FIFA president's leadership, according to an official familiar with the investigation reports.
The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation dossier is supposed to be confidential.
Eckert and Garcia could oppose each other at a hearing at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, while still needing to cooperate on the World Cup corruption case and other matters referred to their ethics panel.
Garcia is still prosecuting cases against current and former FIFA executive committee members and bid staffers that should eventually be judged by Eckert.
The two men were appointed on the same day in July 2012 by the same FIFA ruling board, and were later elected to office by the FIFA congress of 209 member federations last year in Mauritius. The congress retains power to remove either or both.
German Football League (DFL) president Dr. Reinhard Rauball said UEFA could leave FIFA if the World Cup bidding report is not published in full.
Information from The Associated Press and Press Association was used in this report.