Two Fifa officials accused of offering to sell votes
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Your support makes all the difference.Two Fifa officials are alleged to have offered to sell their votes in the contest to host the 2018 World Cup, according to a report in today's Sunday Times.
The newspaper states that it has obtained video evidence in which the Nigerian Fifa executive committee member Amos Adamu appears to ask for £500,000.
In addition, the Oceania Football Confederation president Reynald Temarii is alleged to have wanted money for a sports academy in return for his vote.
The decision about who will host the 2018 World Cup is due to be announced on 2 December. England are competing to host the tournament along with Russia and joint bids from Spain and Portugal, and Holland and Belgium.
A 24-strong committee will decide by secret ballot who should host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The footage, filmed by undercover Sunday Times journalists, shows Adamu wanting money to be paid to him directly for endorsing a bid.
The reporters had posed as lobbyists for a United States bid. The USA decided on Friday to withdraw from the running for the 2018 World Cup and instead concentrate on the 2022 competition.
In the video, Adamu was asked whether the money for a "private project" would have an effect on the way he voted. He reportedly replied: "Obviously, it will have an effect, of course it will. Because certainly if you are to invest in that, that means you also want the vote."
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