FOOTBALL Federation Australia has given the Federal Government its accounts for the failed World Cup 2022 bid and revealed the final bill came in more than $3 million under budget.
The bid team spent $42.25 million of the $45.59 million of Government funds granted to underwrite the ambitious project, $3.34 million under budget.
But the accounts also reveal the kangaroo leather bound Bid Book - the 700-plus page dossier detailing the fine print of the bid - cost more than $11 million, $3 million over the estimated $8 million.
Included in that was the $3.82million it cost for the final presentation in Zurich alone, plus another $4.89 milion to prepare the Bid Book itself (which included scanning 60,000 contracts).
Controversial consultants like Sepp Blatter cohort Peter Hargitay and bid book specialist Feder Radmann cost a total of $6.72 million, with Hargitay picking up $1.45 million and Radmann $3.63.
However the bid saved more than $3 million by not having to pay out win bonuses to the consultants.
The figures also reveal the bid spent more than $2 million on charity donations in Asia and Africa including $1.25 million to Vision Asia, $500,000 in "support for Oceania Football Confederation", $140,000 towards Chengdu Emergency Relief and $90,000 on lapdesks in Africa.
Football United was given $30,000 while a South African children's hospital received $150,000.
However the bid team has saved $950,000 in the wake of the bid's failure by backtracking on planned investment towards developing football in Asia.
PR cost the bid $1.54 million while another $4.86 million was spent on marketing and advertising, mostly in payments to outside agencies.
Domestic and international travel ran up a $2.64million bill, but it was stressed FFA Chairman Frank Lowy paid his own way for all his travel expenses.
Staff costs added up to $5.65 million, but FFA CEO Ben Buckley's wage and that of other executive figures like head of development John Boultbee and the head of legal affairs and the chief finance officer were not included in that total.
The full report is available to read here.
Today the FFA said it was pleased to be able to draw a line under the bid and move on, with the focus now on the launch of the new A-League season.
“Although the submission of this report was a formality it was also an important milestone for FFA under our obligations contained in the funding agreement,” FFA CEO Ben Buckley said.
“The acceptance of the report marks the end of the bid process and with our commitments to the Federal Government around the bid now complete we can close the chapter on this stage of our history.”
He added: “We were all disappointed with the result of the decision and we are on record as saying that we believe the bid process was flawed.
“However, we are very proud of the bid we submitted on behalf of Australia which was widely acknowledged as technically strong.
“We will now continue to focus on the job at hand of optimising the Hyundai A-League, creating value for and connecting the 1.7m-strong grassroots football community and ensuring our national teams have the best possible chance of qualifying for their respective international contests."
Related Articles

Kuwait hub trip forced on Socceroos for WC qualifiers

Backlash over Fox Sports new season launch
