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Platini hits back at British daily’s Qatar claim

By WTOP Staff

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — FIFA vice president Michel Platini has criticized a British newspaper for linking him to corruption claims about Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid.

The Daily Telegraph led Tuesday’s edition reporting that Platini secretly met with his FIFA board colleague Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar “shortly before” the World Cup vote in December 2010.

The claim follows the rival Sunday Times alleging that Bin Hammam, who FIFA expelled in 2012, paid soccer officials millions of dollars to support Qatar’s successful campaign.

Platini writes to the Telegraph editor describing “unfounded rumors which aim at tarnishing my image.”

“I find it astonishing that conversations with a fellow member of the FIFA Executive Committee could suddenly be transformed into a matter of state,” Platini said in the letter released by UEFA.

The UEFA president said he “obviously” met Bin Hammam, a longtime FIFA colleague and fellow soccer confederation leader, “on many occasions in 2010.”

“During those conversations with Mr. Bin Hammam, the topic of the discussions was my potential candidature for the FIFA presidency,” Platini wrote. “Mr. Bin Hammam was indeed trying to convince me to become a candidate for the 2011 FIFA presidential elections.”

After Qatar was chosen by FIFA’s board as World Cup host, Bin Hammam tried to unseat Sepp Blatter as head of soccer’s governing body.

Bin Hammam’s stated aim to seek a deal with Platini for European votes was widely reported in March 2011.

Days before polling in June 2011, Bin Hammam withdrew as FIFA prepared to suspend him for allegedly bribing Caribbean voters. Blatter was re-elected unopposed.

Bin Hammam survived that scandal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, then resigned from soccer as FIFA investigated a forensic audit of Asian Football Confederation accounts.

Qatar’s World Cup bidding campaign, and Bin Hammam’s role, is under renewed scrutiny as FIFA ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia concludes his investigation of the 2018 and 2022 hosting contests.

Platini voted for both winners, Russia and Qatar, though reportedly under pressure from France’s then state president, Nicloas Sarkozy, to back the gas-rich emirate.

“I wish to reiterate that I am the only member of the FIFA Executive Committee who publicly stated for which bid I have voted – proof of my full transparency,” Platini wrote on Tuesday, “and that no one ever dictates terms or conditions to me.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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