19 Nov 2010

Adamu and Temarii banned from future voting

1:02 pm on 19 November 2010

The Fifa executive committee members Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti have been banned from voting in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting ballot.

Adamu was banned from football activity for three years and Oceania President Temarii for one year over claims they asked for money in exchange for World Cup votes.

The 2018 Spain-Portugal and 2022 Qatar bids were cleared of collusion.

The ballot will proceed on December 2nd with 22 voters - instead of 24 - and nine candidates across the two votes.

Following an investigation by Fifa's ethics committee, Adamu - who has pleaded his innocence throughout - was fined $13,000 and Temarii $6,500, while four other Fifa officials, all former executive committee members, were suspended.

Ismael Bhamjee of Botswana was handed a four-year ban, Amadou Diakite of Mali and Ahongalu Fusimalohi of Tonga three-year punishments and Tunisia's Slim Aloulou a two-year suspension.

All four, who were fined $13,000, were found to have broken rules on general conduct and loyalty and of failing to report evidence of misconduct with relation to this case.

The Fifa ethics committee's ruling followed a British newspaper's claim that Adamu and Temarii asked for payments in exchange for votes.

Temarii's lawyer Geraldine Lesieur accepted that his appeal will not be held before the December 2nd World Cup vote - a blow to Australia and England who had counted on his support.