Australia's World Cup bid "dirty"

Secret tapes have allegedly exposed Australia's World Cup bid as being as "dirty" as any other nation bidding to host the tournament in 2022, according to reports.

The official from the Oceania region has been allegedly taped claiming Australian football chairman Frank Lowy got Canberra officials to persuade Oceania to support his bid.

The tapes were recorded by a journalist from Britain's Sunday Times who was sent to New Zealand to pose as a lobbyist.

Listen to the secret tapes

The Oceania official allegedly says the Rudd government splurged $8 million on soccer in the Pacific region to secure the support of Oceania.

The Herald Sun reports the official allegedly says the following:

"Australia has never given us anything," said the official.

"They (FFA) pushed the Rudd government because Frank Lowy won't ever spend a dime. He gets other people to do his spending for him.

"That's how Lowy (Australia's bid leader) was able to get us $8 million through the Australian government. It's direct assistance to football in Oceania.

"They are playing dirty tricks as much as any other person is. In FIFA it's a dirty game altogether.

"The Rudd government signed a three-year assistance to regional football deal with $8 million through AusAID."

The official in question was suspended by FIFA this year after he made comments in relation to England's failed 2018 bid.

A spokeman for the Federal Government insists the money donated to Oceania was not related to the World Cup bid.

"The football-related assistance announced at the 2009 Pacific Islands Forum is to fund activities for six to 12-year-olds in schools in nine Pacific countries to promote girls' roles, healthier lifestyles and the value of education," he said.

"This is part of a broader package of $26 million of sport for development assistance that also included support for netball, rugby league, rugby union and cricket.

"From an aid perspective, any support for football - or any sport - must contribute to effective development.

"AusAID ensures that internationally agreed development principles guide ... all of Australia's sports development assistance. AusAID works with partner country organisations and supports local needs and priorities."

Either way, the outcome was embarrassing for Australia, as the FFA only secured one vote when counted earlier this month.