be boycotted by black players unless Russian President Vladimir Putin gets tougher on racism.

Tokyo Sexwale, FIFA's anti-racism advisor and a former anti-apartheid activist, told the Associated Press that there was growing...

(Kevin Baxter)

Eckert formally ended the probe almost four years after the vote by the governing body's scandal-tainted executive committee. No proof was found of bribes or voting pacts in a probe hampered by a lack of access to evidence and uncooperative witnesses.

"The evaluation of the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cups bidding process is closed for the FIFA Ethics Committee," the German judge wrote in a statement released by FIFA.

Both winners, however, had issues highlighted by Eckert.

Qatar's bid had "potentially problematic facts and circumstances," plus a "significant lack of transparency" in its use of advisors. Computers leased for use byRussia staffers were later destroyed.

Eckert's report reserved his harshest condemnation for England's failed bid for the 2018 tournament. It criticized England for wooing disgraced former FIFA vice president Jack Warner and "damaging the image of FIFA and the bidding process."

The corruption case is still open for past and current members of FIFA's ruling board, but it is unclear who might be targeted.

Critics of FIFA have long relied on Eckert and Garcia to build a case to remove the wealthy desert emirate as host in 2022 by proving suspicions that votes and influence were bought. Qatar beat the United States 14-8 in the final round of a five-nation contest.

The Qatari organizing committee said it would study the report before commenting.