3 Feb 2011

Fifa starts hearing appeals by suspended officials

9:32 am on 3 February 2011

Football's world governing body Fifa has begun hearing the appeals by five officials suspended after allegations of corruption during the bidding race for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii were barred from voting by Fifa's ethics committee.

Nigeria's Adamu has challenged a three-year football ban for seeking bribes from reporters who posed as lobbyists.

Temarii, from Tahiti and who was the Oceania President, was cleared of corruption but received a one-year ban for breaking confidentiality rules.

Three former members of Fifa's ruling panel - Slim Aloulou of Tunisia, Mali's Amadou Diakite and Tongan Ahongalu Fusimalohi - are also appealing against suspensions.

The outcomes should be known by the weekend.