Fifa widens investigation into bidding for World Cup
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fifa announced last night that it is widening its inquiry into bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and is now investigating at least two countries' national associations for alleged collusion.
Disciplinary proceedings have also been opened against the two Fifa executive members, Nigeria's Amos Adamu and Tahiti's Reynald Temarii, who were exposed by a Sunday Times investigation as having allegedly asked for cash in return for their World Cup votes.
The pair will be dealt with by Fifa's ethics committee tomorrow, and the same body is to separately investigate whether at least two countries campaigning to host the 2018 and/or 2022 tournaments breached bidding rules by cutting a deal on votes. Both the two men and the countries involved could be suspended by the ethics committee.
Fifa's statement said: "Fifa has opened proceedings against two current members of the Fifa executive committee to ascertain whether they have violated the Fifa code of ethics. Fifa also confirms that the alleged agreements between member associations would also be a clear violation of the bid registration document and the code of ethics. Therefore, an investigation has also been opened into the member associations in question as well as their bid committees."
Rumours of collusion between a 2018 bidder and a 2022 hopeful last month prompted Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke to warn all countries that mutual voting deals are against Fifa rules.
The scandal has cast a bad light on the whole bidding process for the World Cups – England are bidding for 2018 against Russia, Spain/Portugal and the Netherlands/Belgium, while the 2022 tournament hosts will be from Australia, the US, Qatar, Japan and South Korea.
England 2018 are hoping there will be no backlash against their bid from Fifa members angry that an English newspaper had been investigating them under cover. England had targeted Adamu as one of the crucial "neutral votes" they needed to win the contest.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments