Defiant Hayatou threatens legal action

FIFA vice-president Issa Hayatou yesterday proclaimed his innocence and threatened legal action against BBC Panorama over their claim he accepted a £10,000 (€12,000) bribe — insisting the money was given to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) towards their 40th anniversary celebrations.

The president of African football is now being investigated by the International Olympic Committee — of which he is also a member — following the allegations.

England 2018 had high hopes of winning Hayatou’s support in the FIFA executive committee’s World Cup vote tomorrow.