FIFA officials banned after vote-fixing allegations
FIFA's ethics committee has banned two officials, Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, from voting on the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Nigerian Adamu was handed a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (£6,300) and a three-year suspension from all football-related activity, while Temarii, who represents Tahiti, was handed a one-year suspension and a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs after both were implicated
in allegations of vote-fixing.
The sentences follow an investigation by The Sunday Times in September in which two reporters, disguised as American lobbyists aiming to secure votes for the country's bid to host the 2022 tournament, were allegedly asked by Adamu and Temarii to
invest sums between £500,000 and £1.5million towards football-related projects in their home countries.
It was alleged that the money would be paid in exchange for votes on the American 2022 bid.
"I am profoundly disappointed with the ethics committee's findings and had honestly believed I would be exonerated of any charges by now," Adamu said after the ethics committee announced their verdict.
"I am innocent of all the charges levelled against me by the ethics committee and I completely refute the decision they have made. As yet I have not been advised of the grounds of the ethics committee's decision but regardless, I will be lodging a full appeal
against it with immediate effect."
Another four officials suspended
Four former members of the executive committee, Botswana's Isamel Bhamjee, Amadou Diakite of Mali, Ahongalu Fusimalohi of Tonga and Tunisia's Slim Aloulou, were handed fines of 10,000 Swiss francs and suspensions as the ethics committee continues to investigate
their failure to report the affair to the body.
It is thought that the suspension, while acknowledging the credibility of an investigation that has been deemed detrimental to England's bid, could also harm the English bid as at least one of the two officials were expected to cast their vote on it.
Meanwhile, the ethics committee cleared Spain/Portugal's 2018 bid and the 2022 bid from Qatar of collusion allegations.
In the absence of Adamu and Temarii, 22 as opposed to 24 members of FIFA's executive committee will vote on the 2018 and 2022 host countries on 2 December.
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