Calls to postpone FIFA World Cup host vote

A watchdog body has demanded that FIFA postpone its vote for upcoming World Cup hosts, Deutsche Welle. FIFA was also called on to allow an investigation into corruption allegations after media reports said three judges had accepted bribes. Calls to postpone FIFA World Cup host vote World governing soccer body FIFA has been forced to confront further allegations of corruption after media reports accused three of its senior members of accepting bribes in exchange for their vote in Thursday's 2018 and 2022 World Cup host selection. FIFA had already suspended two executive committee members over similar allegations. A BBC television report and an article in the Swiss Tages-Anzeiger newspaper prompted watchdog body Transparency International to call for a thorough independent investigation and for Thursday's vote in Zurich to be postponed. "FIFA's integrity and credibility, already shaken in the past, have been badly tarnished and the reputational damage suffered by FIFA these last weeks is considerable," the anti-corruption organization said in a statement. "The awarding of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cup must be postponed until all light has been shed on the allegations published in the press. These have cast such discredit on FIFA's processes that a decision under these circumstances would only fan the controversy." The BBC television program Panorama, which aired on Monday night, accused three FIFA executives of taking bribes worth millions of dollars. The three men - Ricardo Teixera of Brazil, African football chief Issa Hayatou and South America's Nicolas Leoz - are alleged to have received secret payments from the International Sports and Leisure (ISL) sports marketing firm. FIFA President Sepp Blatter declined to comment on the corruption allegations facing the executives, though in the "Panorama" report he had said that all ISL officials implicated in the bribery scandal had been exonerated. Meanwhile, officials campaigning for England's 2018 bid have since lashed out at the BBC for running the report, which they deemed "sensationalist" and ill-timed. "If [the BBC] truly believes there's a journalistic reason to run this Panorama - and that that's their decision - then they could have done it at any time in the past two years," England bid chief Andy Anson said. "To do it the week before the vote is about one thing - sensationalism. I don't think that's helpful and I don't think it's patriotic." England is up against favorites Russia and the two joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium to host the 2018 World Cup. The 2022 race, also scheduled to be decided in Thursday's vote, sees Australia, Qatar, Japan, South Korea and the United States vying for the competition.

Calls to postpone FIFA World Cup host vote

World governing soccer body FIFA has been forced to confront further allegations of corruption after media reports accused three of its senior members of accepting bribes in exchange for their vote in Thursday's 2018 and 2022 World Cup host selection.

FIFA had already suspended two executive committee members over similar allegations.

A BBC television report and an article in the Swiss Tages-Anzeiger newspaper prompted watchdog body Transparency International to call for a thorough independent investigation and for Thursday's vote in Zurich to be postponed.

"FIFA's integrity and credibility, already shaken in the past, have been badly tarnished and the reputational damage suffered by FIFA these last weeks is considerable," the anti-corruption organization said in a statement.

"The awarding of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cup must be postponed until all light has been shed on the allegations published in the press. These have cast such discredit on FIFA's processes that a decision under these circumstances would only fan the controversy."

The BBC television program Panorama, which aired on Monday night, accused three FIFA executives of taking bribes worth millions of dollars.

The three men - Ricardo Teixera of Brazil, African football chief Issa Hayatou and South America's Nicolas Leoz - are alleged to have received secret payments from the International Sports and Leisure (ISL) sports marketing firm.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter declined to comment on the corruption allegations facing the executives, though in the "Panorama" report he had said that all ISL officials implicated in the bribery scandal had been exonerated.

Meanwhile, officials campaigning for England's 2018 bid have since lashed out at the BBC for running the report, which they deemed "sensationalist" and ill-timed.

"If [the BBC] truly believes there's a journalistic reason to run this Panorama - and that that's their decision - then they could have done it at any time in the past two years," England bid chief Andy Anson said.

"To do it the week before the vote is about one thing - sensationalism. I don't think that's helpful and I don't think it's patriotic."

England is up against favorites Russia and the two joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium to host the 2018 World Cup.

The 2022 race, also scheduled to be decided in Thursday's vote, sees Australia, Qatar, Japan, South Korea and the United States vying for the competition.