Nigerian FIFA official denies vote selling claims

A Nigerian FIFA official has told the British Broadcasting Corporation (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 the BBC African Service that he welcomed the FIFA investigation into the claims.



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. He denies the claim, suggesting that his comments on the Sunday Times video had been taken out of context.



Adamu and Temarii, both members of FIFA’s 24-man executive committee, were suspended by the organisation for 30 days on Wednesday.



FIFA is the international governing body of association football.



Adamu, who is also president of the West African Football Union, is said to have told the undercover reporter he wanted £500,000 to build the four artificial football pitches in Nigeria.



A 24-strong FIFA committee will decide by secret ballot on December who should host the tournament.