FIFA bid probe approaches climax

FIFA is due to announce today the outcome of a probe into alleged corruption and collusion that has upset bidding for football’s 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The ethics committee has been meeting in Zurich since Monday in an attempt to complete its investigation after two of the 24 members of FIFA’s executive committee were suspended last month.

Four other football officials and ex-FIFA decision makers were also sidelined following the claims of possible vote buying raised in a controversial sting by undercover reporters for a British newspaper.

FIFA has also scheduled a meeting of its decision-making executive committee for tomorrow, a spokesperson told AFP, but no further details were given.

England, Russia and joint bids by Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium are in the running to host the 2018 World Cup while Australia, the United States, Japan, Qatar and South Korea are bidding for 2022.

England and Spain-Portugal’s existing infrastructure had a favourable report on the on-site technical evaluation of the bids, which was released yesterday.

The US, Japanese and South Korean bids appeared to be best placed for 2022.

Meanwhile, Sepp Blatter wants to press ahead with the executive committee’s choice on December 2 after a glitzy and high profile final pitch by the bidders in Zurich even if suspensions on Nigeria’s Amos Adamu or Oceanian football chief Reynald Temarii are upheld.