1 Dec 2010

FIFA dismisses BBC TV allegations

6:49 am on 1 December 2010

FIFA has dismissed allegations made by a BBC TV programme against three executive committee members, saying Swiss authorities had already investigated and the case had been closed.

The Panorama programme claimed three FIFA executive members took bribes from International Sports and Leisure, the company which won a lucrative contract to become FIFA's marketing arm, but went bankrupt in 2001.

One of the accused members, the Confederation of African Football chief Issa Hayatou, is also a member of the International Olympic Committee which says it'll be referring the matter to its Ethics Committee.

Meanwhile FIFA has dismissed a call from a Swiss atni-corruption wathdog to postpone the votes to decide the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which will be cast tomorrow night.