Fifa launches investigation into cash-for-votes claims 18/10/2010 |
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Fifa has vowed to investigate claims that two members of its executive committee offered to sell their votes in the contest to host the 2018 World Cup.
The Sunday Times newspaper alleged that the offers were made to reporters working undercover as lobbyists for a consortium of American companies who wanted to bring the tournament to the United States.
The report said Nigeria's Amos Adamu was filmed asking for money for a personal project and that Oceania Football Confederation president Reynald Temarii from Tahiti wanted money for a sports academy.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has written to all 24 executive committee members promising a full investigation into the allegations.
The letter said: "I am sorry to have to inform you of a very unpleasant situation, which has developed in relation to an article published in the Sunday Times titled 'World Cup votes for sale'.
"The information in the article has created a very negative impact on Fifa and on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups. Some current and former members of the executive committee are mentioned in the article.
"Fifa will open an in-depth investigation, which we will start immediately together with the Fifa ethics committee and the Fifa secretary general.
"I will keep you duly informed of any further developments. In the meantime, I would like to ask you to refrain from making any public comments on this matter."
Fifa’s executive committee will decide on December 2 in Zurich which countries will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. It was suggested over the weekend that the scandal could delay the process – though the validity of those reports remains unclear.
England and Russia are bidding for the 2018 finals along with joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands.
The candidates for 2022 are Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Australia and the United States, after the US pulled out of the running for 2018 on Friday (October 15) to concentrate on 2022.
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