FIFA has confirmed it will widen its investigation into corruption allegations which have plagued the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Football’s world governing body has already opened proceedings against two current members of the FIFA executive committee to ascertain whether they have violated the FIFA code of ethics.

Nigerian Amos Adamu and Tahitian Reynald Temarii, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) president, face an investigation following allegations they asked for payments for their votes.

This investigation has now been expanded to examine allegations of collusion between the member associations in question, as well as their bid committees.

“FIFA has again asked the chairman of the Ethics Committee to act without delay to take all possible steps, including the possibility of provisional measures, should the relevant conditions be met,” read a statement.

Corruption

The vote to decide who will host the next two World Cups is scheduled to take place on December 2nd.

England are up against Russia and joint bids from Holland/Belgium and Spain/Portugal in their attempt to host the 2018 competition.

Earlier this week the United States revealed its intention to focus exclusively on the 2022 tournament. Qatar, Japan, South Korea and Australia are all also in the running.

However, the vote may now be delayed while the allegations of corruption are investigated.

Adamu and Temarii were secretly filmed by reporters from the Sunday Times, who posed as lobbyists for a consortium of American companies that wanted to bring the tournament to the US.

Adamu allegedly said he wanted $800,000 (£500,000) to build four artificial football pitches.

This would be against Fifa’s rules.

His vote was seen as vital in that he was one of four Africa FIFA members and no African nations can bid for either 2018 or 2022.