Blatter turns down request for evidence

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has declined an invitation to give evidence about World Cup bidding allegations to a Parliamentary committee.

Blatter has told the MPs on the culture, media and sport committee that FIFA is focusing on their own investigation into claims of bribery.

The allegations that two FIFA executive committee members were paid 1.5million US dollars to vote for Qatar 2022 were contained in a Sunday Times submission to the committee that was made public by members under parliamentary privilege.

A FIFA spokesman said: “FIFA has immediately asked both the Football Association and the Sunday Times for a report on this matter.

“With this in mind, FIFA has informed the culture, media and sport committee that it is focusing on its own investigation and that there is therefore no need for the FIFA president to attend the committee.”

FIFA members Issa Hayatou (Cameroon) and Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast) have denied the claims, as have Qatar’s World Cup bid team.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Bin Hammam, the head of Asian football who is standing against Blatter for the FIFA presidency, has called on the FA to reconsider their decision to abstain in the election.

The FA said the issues surrounding FIFA made it “difficult” to support either candidate.

Bin Hammam said: “It is always disappointing when someone opts not to engage with the rest, when one of our national associations takes the decision not to try to affect change from the inside.

“They (the FA) should be working with FIFA and the rest of the global game to improve and enhance football. By choosing to abstain, the FA is, sadly, forfeiting that right.

“I realise they have their reasons for making their decision but I hope in the days leading up to the election that they will reconsider their position and make moves to engage fully with the global football family, both on June 1 and beyond.”