体坛英语新闻：FIFA ethics committee hold meeting behind closed doors

ZURICH, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The ethics committee of world football's governing body is holding a three-day meeting behind closed doors to examine corruption allegations surrounding the bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Led by lawyer and former Swiss striker, Claudio Sulser, the committee is investigating two executive committee members and two bidding nations.

The vote by the executive committee of world football's governing body on December 2 to choose the hosts has been clouded by British newspaper allegations of possible vote buying and illicit collusion between some of the bidders.

FIFA has pledged zero tolerance, suspending two members of the 24-strong executive committee as well as four other footballing officials pending the outcome of the ethics probe, which is shrouded in secrecy.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the ethics committee meeting was taking place behind closed doors from Monday over three days but declined to give further details.

The two men being investigated over the allegations are Reynald Temarii, the Tahitian president of Oceania's confederation, and Amos Adamu, an executive committee member and a former director general of the Nigerian Sports Commission.

Temarii, who has been suspended from his role as FIFA's vice-president, remains adamant he will be vindicated, claiming: "I have no doubt that I will vote on December 2."

He insists the undercover interviews were 'grossly manipulated' and edited to make him appear corrupt.

The committee could bar the two officials from taking part in the vote if it finds they have committed any offence.

On Friday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter will chair a meeting of the executive committee to discuss the outcome of the ethics committe probe and decide how to proceed with the 2018/2022 vote.

If Adamu and Temarii are banned, the dynamics of the vote will completely change. For example, Australia, who have been backed by Temarii from the outset, would lose his crucial vote. Bids need 12 votes - an absolute majority - to secure the right to host the competitions.