A former special advisor to Sepp Blatter has hinted that Russia and Qatar may have paid bribes to secure hosting rights to the next two World Cups.
Big questions still remain over the legality of both bidding processes, after 14 high-ranking officials from world football's governing body were charged by US authorities over allegations of racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracies.
The independent chairman of FIFA's audit compliance committee, Domenico Scala, yesterday revealed that Russia and Qatar could potentially be stripped as hosts should evidence of wrongdoing emerge during the FBI's current investigation.
Guido Tognoni, who worked alongside Blatter during the outgoing president's second term in charge of FIFA, has confirmed to BBC Sport that corruption is rife deep within world football's governing body.
"In FIFA, for many years, you could only reach your goal by taking dollars in your hands," he said. "Even if there is evidence that FIFA people were bribed, where is the problem with FIFA, or the people who had no choice but to get the World Cup with bribing?"
The Football Association recently ruled out hosting either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Daniel Lewis
