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Fifa probes corruption allegations

ZURICH - Fifa's ethics court began hearing corruption allegations yesterday against executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, and at least two countries bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Fifa ordered investigations into Adamu of Nigeria and Temarii from Tahiti after British newspaper The Sunday Times reported they offered to sell their votes in the World Cup contests.

Football's governing body requested evidence from the newspaper, which filmed the officials discussing deals to fund football projects with reporters who posed as lobbyists. The ethics panel is also examining allegations that unnamed bidders were colluding to trade support, in breach of Fifa rules.

The panel, chaired by lawyer and former Switzerland international Claudio Sulser, can suspend Fifa officials from duty and recommend action against bid candidates that could wreck a lobbying campaign.

Fifa's ruling executive will select the two World Cup hosts in a December 2 secret ballot in Zurich.

The 2018 tournament will be held in Europe with four candidates: England, Russia and the joint bids by Belgium-Holland and Spain-Portugal.

The 2022 hosting rights race was between the US and Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea.

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