Fifa to investigate claims over World Cup 2018 bid
Fifa are set to investigate claims that two officials offered to sell their votes in the bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
The Sunday Times reports that Amos Adamu, a Fifa executive committee member from Nigeria, was filmed agreeing a deal with an undercover reporter accepting to sell his vote for £500,000. Adamu said he would use the money to build four artificial pitches in Nigeria.
According to the report, it is believed the deal was finalised last month in Cairo, and Adamu was set to cast his vote to the USA to host the World Cup. Since then, the USA has withdrawn their bid and have opted to bid for the 2022 World Cup instead.
The report also shows Reynald Temarii, the president of the Oceania Football Confederation, wanting £1.5million for his vote, and wanting to use the money to provide the funds for a sports academy.
Fifa said last night in a statement: “Fifa and the Fifa ethics committee have closely monitored the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and will continue to do so.
“Fifa has already requested to receive all of the information and documents related to this matter, and is awaiting to receive this material. 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.”
England are bidding for the 2018 World Cup, competing with the likes of Russia, and joint bids from Holland and Belgium, and Spain and Portugal. The report from the Sunday Times also showed a former member of the Fifa committee playing down England’s chances to win the bid because they refused to offer lucrative deals. “England have got all the good reasons why they should host it but they don't strike the deals ... It's sad but true.”
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