FIFA call World Cup meeting

12 November 2010 10:00

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has summoned members of the executive committee to a special meeting next Friday to decide on any action following the hearing into corruption and collusion allegations.

The ethics committee is due to rule on Wednesday into allegations made by the Sunday Times that two executive members, Nigeria's Amos Adamu and Tahiti's Reynald Temarii, asked for cash for projects in exchange for their World Cup votes. They deny any wrongdoing. The committee will also issue a judgement on allegations that Spain/Portugal and Qatar have colluded with each other in contravention of FIFA's bidding rules.

FIFA confirmed on Friday that Blatter had called a meeting of executive committee members for two days after the ruling where they will debate the outcome of the ethics hearings.

Meanwhile, England 2018's international president David Dein has met Blatter in an effort to revive the struggling bid to host the World Cup.

Dein met Blatter and FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke at FIFA headquarters three weeks before the vote.

The meeting gave Dein the opportunity to try to limit any further damage to the bid from BBC Panorama's investigation after bid leaders admitted the Sunday Times sting had caused significant harm to their chances.

England 2018 need to pull out all the stops because at the moment they look to be behind both Spain/Portugal and Russia - though ahead of Holland/Belgium - in the race for 2018.

There has been a boost for England after it was confirmed that Prince William and Prime Minister David Cameron will be part of their delegation for next month's vote, according to a confidential FIFA list.

The prince and Cameron are included on a list of top VIPs from all bidding countries due to attend the December 2 vote for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

England can include 30 people in their delegation and bid leaders also hope David Beckham will be going to Zurich to back the bid.

Source: PA