Fifa To Probe World Cup Vote Selling Claims

World football governing body FIFA is to investigate claims in a Sunday newspaper that two of its officials have offered to sell their votes in the race to host the 2018 World Cup.

President Sepp Blatter has spoken of his displeasure at the allegations and admitted the scandal has had a ‘very negative impact’ on the governing body.??

However, FIFA is unlikely to postpone the 2nd December ballot that will take place to decide the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.?

England’s bid will not be effected by the claims according to Chuck Blazer, a member of the FIFA executive committee: ‘I don’t think this is an issue which will have an anti-English backlash in the executive committee.’?

The report in the Sunday Times suggests that FIFA members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii allegedly asked for payments in return for their vote.

If the allegations were true it would be against FIFA rules and Blatter has reportedly written to all 24 executive members to inform them of a full investigation into the matter.??

In the letter Blatter said: ‘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.’??

‘FIFA will… open an in-depth investigation, which we will start immediately together with the FIFA ethics committee and the FIFA secretary general,’ he added.

??England, Russia and joint bids from Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal are in the race to host the 2018 World Cup.??

England announced that it is withdrawing from the contest to host the 2022 World Cup in its bid to focus on the 2018 tournament.