Project Merciless

Project Merciless is the codename of the Qatari covert intelligence and espionage operation, to secure it hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The project that targeted high FIFA officials, contenders for hosting the world cup as well as those criticizing Qatar's bid, included espionage, surveillance, hacking and influence operations.

Background

In 2007 FIFA decided to end its continental rotation policy, agreeing on a new rule saying that countries from the continents that hosted the last two World Cups couldn’t bid to host the next one.^[1][2] According to FIFA, the change was made so more countries would have a chance to host the World Cup and so preventing back to back hosting in the same region.^[1] This gave Qatar the opportunity in 2009 to bid for the host of the 2022 World Cup tournament. In December 2010, Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 World Cup, but this decision was a controversial one, as many criticized labor rights in Qatar, the extreme heat, and possible corruption in FIFA's bidding process.^[3] Especially when they compared Qatar's bid to those of the United States and Australia.^[4]

Operation layout

Based on reports, the operation that took place for several years, took place mainly in Zurich and Switzerland, close to FIFA headquarters.^[5][6] It was managed by Global Risk Advisors (GRA), a company located in the US, providing intelligence services and founded by an ex-CIA operative, Kevin Chalker.^[5][6][7] The company's employees were ex-intelligence officers who used hacking, surveillance, and deception tactics, to get information.^[5][8][9] The operation was conducted also in multiple countries, as emails and phones were hacked, private communications were infiltrated and human intelligence was gathered.^[5][8] The cost of Project Merciless, was estimated between $387 million to $567 million, targeting FIFA officials and critics of Qatar's bid.^[8]

Objective

Project Merciless had one main goal, ensuring Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup.^[5][8][9] Documents discovered by Swiss intelligence showed that the operation was meant to suppress criticize of Qatar, mainly on subjects like labor practices and human rights record.^[5][8] The operation was looking for “predictive intelligence” and “total informational awareness” to control the global governance of football, with particular focus on undermining any opposition within FIFA and related organizations.^[9]

Used methods

During the operation several methods and tactics were used to infiltrate and influence significant football world figures.

Surveillance and hacking

During the operation phones, computers and emails of senior FIFA officials were hacked, as well as committee members and those who criticized Qatar's bid for the World Cup.^[5][7][9]

Monitoring and Bugging

The operation used physical monitoring which included surveillance technology to eavesdrop on private meetings and communication.^[5][7][9]

Subcontracting and third-party involvement

According to the reports, Global Risk Advisors, worked with subcontractors, one of them an Indian IT company that assisted in hacking and other covert activities.^[5][7][9]

Main targets

Reports claim that those targeted on Project Merciless could be categorized to:

FIFA officials

Past and present high ranking members of FIFA's executive committee were targeted and monitored.^[5][7][8]

Critics of Qatar

This category included individuals and organizations who opposed or raised concern about Qatar's bid for hosting the World Cup. Among the subjects were labor rights activists, trade unions and critics within football's governing bodies.^[5][7][8]

Football organizations and media

Organizations and institutions that criticized and challenged Qatar's image and practices, like media outlets as well as football organizations, critical of Qatar's human rights record, were also targeted.^[5][6][8]

Global operation

The central location of the operation was Zurich and Switzerland as FIFA headquarters were located there. Even so, the operation had a global scope, covering all five continents. During as time period of 9 years, 66 operatives directed their efforts to influence FIFA's leadership, while undermining critics of Qatar's bid of hosting the World Cup.^[5][6][7][9]

Key figures

Investigations, reports and documents revealed that key figures of the Qatari government were involved in Project Merciless, as well as the private intelligence sector.

Qatar's ruling authority

According to the reports it is suggested that Qatar's ruling authority approved the operation, with the suspect that Emir of Qatar is the one who is codenamed "apex" in internal documents.^[5][6][8]

Global Risk Advisors and Kevin Chalker

Global Risk Advisors was founded by Kevin Chalker a former CIA operative. Reports say that they were the ones who behind the operation, with GRA providing the professional intelligence experience to carry out such a scheme of behalf of Qatar.^[5][6][8][9]

See also

• 2022 FIFA World Cup
• FIFA
• Human rights in Qatar

External links

• Project Merciless.^[10]