FIFA focus on fresh World Cup vote fix

FIFA could come under pressure to postpone the race to host the World Cup as it extends its investigation into cash for votes to include allegations by former general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen.

He is alleged to have identified top officials he claimed could take money in return for votes. Zen-Ruffinen, who worked for 16 years at FIFA before falling out with president Sepp Blatter, is alleged to have told undercover reporters what it would take to win the backing of some of the members of the FIFA executive committee who will vote on who should stage the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Zurich on December 2.

The reports appeared in the Sunday Times.

Zen-Ruffinen, 51, suggests some of the members can be influenced by money, another by "ladies," while another was "the biggest gangster you will find on earth."

Zen-Ruffinen alleges that the Spain-Portugal bid to host the World Cup in 2018, for which England are also bidding, has struck a deal with Qatar to exchange votes, although Qatar have denied the allegations.

FIFA has already agreed to investigate vote buying after similar allegations a week ago resulting in the suspension of Nigerian FIFA executive Amos Adamu.