sexta-feira, 22 de outubro de 2010

Nigerian Fifa official denies vote selling claims


A Nigerian Fifa official has told the BBC he is not guilty of allegations that he offered to sell his vote in the contest to host the 2018 World Cup.
Amos Adamu told Farayi Mungazi of the BBC African Service that he welcomed the Fifa investigation into the claims.
Reporters from the Sunday Times posed as lobbyists for a consortium of US firms who wanted to bring the tournament to the United States.
Mr Adamu allegedly said he wanted cash to build pitches in Nigeria.
Tahiti's Reynald Temarii, president of the Oceania Football Confederation, is also alleged to have asked for a payment, in his case to finance a sports academy.
Mr Adamu and Mr Temarii, both members of Fifa's 24-man executive committee, were suspended by the organisation for 30 days on Wednesday.
"The [Fifa] ethics committee will investigate this and I am very happy about it because this will enable the whole world to know the truth of the matter," Mr Adamu told the BBC, speaking publicly on the issue for the first time.
"As far as I am concerned I am not guilty of what they are saying, but the ethics committee is credible and Fifa is a credible organisation. I am sure that the whole truth will come out. I welcome it."
Mr Adamu, who is also president of the West African Football Union, is said to have told the undercover reporters he wanted $800,000 (£500,000) to build the four artificial football pitches in Nigeria.
Mr Temarii has also denied the allegations, suggesting that his comments on the Sunday Times video had been taken out of context.
A 24-strong Fifa committee will decide by secret ballot on 2 December who should host the tournament.
BBC News