Fifa retains World Cup vote date

Fifa retains World Cup vote date

Fifa president Sepp Blatter haeded an executive meeting on Friday

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says that the vote to decide who will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments will still take place on 2 December.

Fifa has made the decision, despite two of its executive members being suspended for alleged vote selling.

"We are five weeks from the final decision so there was never a question of changing anything," said Blatter.

"So on 2 December the Fifa executive committee will decide in a secret ballot the hosts for 2018 and 2022."

The two Fifa executive members who have been suspended are Nigerian Amos Adamu and Tahiti's Reynald Temarii and they are under investigation as part of the organisation's ethics panel.

Blatter confirmed that a ruling on the mater is expected on 17 November and, if the two are not reinstated, then only 22 Fifa executive members will cast a vote instead of the full 24.

In a campaign process dogged by controversy, the Fifa ethics committee is also looking into claims of collusion between the joint Spain and Portugal bid with that of Qatar, although all parties have denied all allegations of unfair practice.

Spain and Portugal are vying with England, Russia as well as the joint bid of Netherlands and Belgium to stage the 2018 World Cup.

In the race to host the 2022 competition, Australia, Qatar, Japan/South Korea and the United States are in the running.