Israel Saria
FIFA, world football’s governing body, said yesterday it would investigate claims by a UK newspaper report that two members of its executive committee had offered to sell their votes in the contest to host the 2018 World Cup.
An undercover investigation by The Sunday Times alleged that Amos Adamu, a Nigerian member of FIFA’s executive committee and president of the West African Football Union, asked for $800,000 to endorse one of the bid candidates.
It also reported that Tahiti’s Reynald Temarii, a FIFA vice-president and president of the Oceania Football Confederation, wanted NZ$3 million ($2.3 million) for a sports academy in exchange for a vote.
“FIFA has already requested to receive all of the information and documents related to this matter, and is awaiting to receive this material,” the body said in a statement.
“In any case, FIFA will immediately analyse the material available and only once this analysis has concluded will FIFA be able to decide on any potential next steps. In the meantime, FIFA is not in a position to provide any further comments on this matter.”
The Sunday Times reporters has been working undercover and posed as lobbyists for a consortium of American private companies.
FIFA’s 24-strong executive committee will decide which countries will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups on December 2 in Zurich.
It also reported that Tahiti’s Reynald Temarii, a FIFA vice-president and president of the Oceania Football Confederation, wanted NZ$3 million ($2.3 million) for a sports academy in exchange for a vote.
“FIFA has already requested to receive all of the information and documents related to this matter, and is awaiting to receive this material,” the body said in a statement.
“In any case, FIFA will immediately analyse the material available and only once this analysis has concluded will FIFA be able to decide on any potential next steps. In the meantime, FIFA is not in a position to provide any further comments on this matter.”
The Sunday Times reporters has been working undercover and posed as lobbyists for a consortium of American private companies.
FIFA’s 24-strong executive committee will decide which countries will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups on December 2 in Zurich.
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