كتب : Omar AbdelAziz
Nigeria's Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii from Tahiti were both suspended pending a full hearing next month, after which a final decision shall be made.
While four other members Slim Aloulou (Tunisia), Amadou Diakite (Mali), Ismael Bhamjee (Botswana) and Ahongalu Fusimalohi (Tonga) were provisionally suspended.
FIFA's Ethics Committee announced its decision this week, following an undercover investigation by the Sunday Times last weekend.
Statement
"The decision to provisionally suspend these officials is fully justified and should not be put in question," said the chairman of the Ethics Committee, Claudio Sulser in a statement.
"The evidence that has been presented to us today has led us to take this provisional measure, as we considered that the conditions were definitely met to take this decision and we deem that it is crucial to protect the integrity of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process. We are determined to have zero tolerance for any breach of the Code of Ethics.
"Finally, and again at the request of FIFA, the Ethics Committee decided to open an investigation into alleged agreements between member associations and their Bid Committees in relation to the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process, something which would also be a violation of the Bid Registration document and the Code of Ethics.
"A decision on this case will also be taken by the Ethics Committee at its meeting in mid-November, following a thorough investigation."