FIFA official set to face ethics panel

FIFA executive committee member Amos Adamu faces an ethics panel hearing tomorrow after being implicated in a bribery scandal involving the vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The Nigerian's hearing is set for the same day another FIFA official, Reynald Temarii, faces a similar case. Adamu declined to comment last night after meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who has promised an "in-depth investigation" into corruption allegations against the two officials.

The probe follows a report in the Sunday Times - based on a sting investigation by undercover reporters - that Adamu and Temarii offered to sell their votes in the bidding for the World Cup. The FIFA vote on the 2018 and 2022 events is scheduled for 2 December in Zurich.

The FIFA ethics committee panel can enforce any punishment in FIFA's disciplinary code, including banning officials "from taking part in any kind of football-related activity."

The 2018 race is now between four European candidates: England, Russia and joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Spain-Portugal.

The 2022 contest is between the US, Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea.