Fifa begins its probe into World Cup bidding scandal

Two decades after quitting as a player, former Swiss striker Claudio Sulser may be about to make a far bigger mark on the game as head of the Fifa body investigating the credibility of the World Cup bidding process.

Today, Sulser and the ethics committee he chairs will start looking into allegations that executive committee members Reynald Temarii of Tahiti and Nigeria's Amos Adamu offered to sell their votes in the contest.

The committee will also probe suspicions of collusion between unnamed bidding nations, which was a risk from the moment Fifa decided that it would decide the hosts for two World Cups at the same time in early December.

Sulser netted 13 goals for Switzerland and once finished as top scorer in the European Cup while playing for Grasshoppers Zurich, and, while his career was more than respectable, it is fair to say he has never been in the spotlight like he is now.

Fifa last night said it was too early to comment on whether a bidding nation could ultimately be disqualified for a serious breach of the rules. With only the 24 executive committee members entitled to vote, the allegations are a blow to the credibility of the bidding process.