London — British MPs on Sunday called for an investigation into claims that Qatar offered Fifa a total of $880 million to avail rights to host the 2022 World Cup.

The Sunday Times reported that they have access to several leaked documents which show that the entire sum was paid two parts: $400 million paid just 21 days prior to Fifa’s announcement that Qatar will host the World Cup 2022, and $480million paid three years later.

Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Qatar’s Emir who also owns and controls the Qatari-run state broadcasting agency the Al Jazeera, is believed to have signed a television contract that involved the initial $400million. The contract reportedly included a “success fee” of $100m, provided the country emerged victorious from the 2010 World Cup ballot.

MP Damian Collins, who is the chairman of the digital, culture, media and sport committee, called on Fifa to freeze the payments from Al Jazeera and launch an investigation into the apparent contract that “appears to be in clear breach of the rules”.

The Liberal Democrats joined the call for an investigation, with their former leader, Tim Farron, calling on the prime minister to “instruct government minister to urgently meet with Fifa in a bid to secure their agreement for an urgent investigation”.

In an email response to questions from the Sunday Times on Friday, Fifa wrote, “Please note that Fifa lodged a criminal complaint with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, which is still pending. Fifa is and will continue to cooperate with the authorities.” — Agencies