The suspension of Oceania delegate Reynard Temarii from FIFA’s executive committee has sent shockwaves through Australia and New Zealand, which counted on him voting for Australia’s bid for the 2022 World Cup.
Temarii was suspended from all football-related activity for a year on Thursday after being caught in a newspaper sting allegedly offering his vote in exchange for financial support for a football academy in Auckland.
His suspension and a longer ban imposed on Amos Adamu of Nigeria means the decision by FIFA’s executive committee on the venues for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will proceed with 22 rather than 24 delegates on December 2 in Zurich.