20 Nov 2010

Blatter promises 'new FIFA' will vote on World Cup hosts

12:42 pm on 20 November 2010

The world football chief Sepp Blatter has promised that a new FIFA will choose the 2018 and 2022 hosts for the World Cup next month but admitted that changes would be needed in the future.

Blatter says that world football's governing body and its showcase event were gaining more than sporting stature.

He says considering the importance world cup's have for the host country's economy, FIFA have a political dimension to their decision as well.

Blatter's comments come just a day after the FIFA ethics committee banned two executive committee members for one to three years over bribery or misconduct following the World Cup bidding scandal.

Blatter says all nine bidders were expected to bring top political leaders to back their final pitch to host the 2018 and 2022 events in Zurich on December the 2nd.

England, Russia and joint bids by Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium are in the running to host the 2018 World Cup while Australia, the United States, Japan, Qatar and South Korea are bidding for 2022.