Fifa Suspend 'Cash For Votes' Executives

Saturday, 20th November 2010 at 08:05am

Two Fifa executives embroiled in the Sunday Times 'cash for votes' expose in October have been suspended for up to three years and fined by football's governing body following a month-long investigation initiated by Fifa President Sepp Blatter.

Amos Adamu of Nigeria has been suspended for three years from any football-related activity and was fined around 6,300 for his role in the scandal. Adamu was found guilty of no less than five breaches of Fifa's code of conduct.

Tahiti's Reynald Temarii received a one-year suspension and a fine of approximately 3,000 for breaking the game's governing body's rules regarding confidentiality and loyalty.

Both men continue to plead their innocence and have lodged appeals against the decision

Adamu and Temarii were filmed by Sunday Times journalists posing as lobbyists for a private American business asking for cash to secure their support in the upcoming vote to determine the host nation for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Adamu is believed to have asked for 500,000 to build four new football pitches in Nigeria, while Temarii is thought to have requested 1.5 million to build a sporting academy in the Oceania region, both contravening Fifa regulations.

Four other officials have been issued with fines totalling more than 6,000 and have been suspended for a combined 12 years.

An investigation into apparent collusion between the 2018 joint bid by Spain and Portugal and the Qatari 2022 campaign turned up no evidence of foul play and both bids will proceed as scheduled for the vote on 2 December.

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