LONDON (AP) — FIFA president Sepp Blatter says a British newspaper story alleging that two FIFA officials offered to sell their World Cup hosting votes has had a “very negative impact” on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
The chief of world soccer’s governing body says in an open letter to his colleagues on the executive committee that the Sunday Times story is a “very unpleasant situation.”
He writes that “information in the article has created a very negative impact on FIFA and on the bidding process.” He doesn’t say whether the 24-man committee’s Dec. 2 vote could be delayed while FIFA investigates the allegations.
The Sunday Times filmed Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Oceania Football Confederation president Reynald Temarii of Tahiti asking for money to fund projects.
