Exclusive: 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes to go ahead as planned FIFA rule

By David Owen

October 28 – FIFA has set its face against postponing its votes on either the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup hosts, insideworldfootball has learnt.

Gathering today in Zurich, FIFA Executive Committee members apparently concluded that separating the votes, due to take place at FIFA Headquarters on December 2, was simply not feasible.

Barring a surprise U-turn when they reconvene on Friday, this now looks to be the decision that will be announced.

The recent spate of bribery and corruption allegations has put FIFA under intense pressure to postpone one or both votes while an investigation is conducted.

However – whether desirable or not – the international football politics calendar is now so crowded as to make any rescheduling incredibly difficult.

The 2011 Asian Football Confederation Congress, for example, is taking place as early as January 6.

Not only does Asia supply four of the five 2022 candidates, but three of the AFC’s four FIFA Executive Committee positions are open for election at the event, with credible new challengers for at least some of the posts anticipated.

Under such circumstances, postponing the World Cup vote any later than this event would clearly be highly unsatisfactory.

There could also be commercial ramifications, with FIFA’s money men thought to be keen to be able to tell prospective sponsors for the 2015-22 period at the outset of negotiations where both World Cup tournaments on their watch are going to be held.

By contrast, a decision to stick with the current timetable would make life difficult for bid strategists, who will not know until the closing weeks of the contest exactly who will be permitted to vote.

Two Executive Committee members – Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii – have been provisionally suspended in the wake of allegations published in the Sunday Times newspaper.

FIFA’s Ethics Committee is not expected to announce its verdict until November 17- just 15 days before the two World Cup hosts are due to be determined.

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