ZURICH: Hans-Joachim Eckert, the German judge pondering over the outcome of an inquiry into the 2018-2022 World Cup bid scandal, will not make any decision before November at the earliest.

Two weeks ago Eckert was handed a 360-page report from independent ethics investigator Michael Garcia into one of the most damaging projects in the history of the world football federation.

Initially it had been thought that Eckert would deliver his verdict – recommendations and possible sanctions – next month.

However, in an interview with Reuters, Eckert indicated it would be “a few months” before he would announce his findings.

He said: “I  am expecting a decision in a few months. I see the beginning of November when I am going to get ready.”

Eckert must not only read and pronounce on the basis of the report but on the totality of 200,000 other pages of documents relating to the scandal which saw the World Cups awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively.

He will not make any statement about the case when he addresses an ethics-in-sport conference being hosted by FIFA at its Zurich headquarters on Friday.

#######################