Blatter vow to get rid of 'devils' who cloud game

Amos Adamu, from Nigeria, and Tahiti's Reynald Temarii, the two members of FIFA's 24-man executive committee who will decide on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, were trapped by a Sunday Times undercover investigation asking for cash in return for their votes.

The pair appeared before the FIFA ethics committee yesterday and were suspended "from all football activity" pending a final hearing next month.

The committee will also continue to probe rumours of collusion between two countries bidding for 2018/2022, something explicitly forbidden by the regulations.

FIFA chiefs have ruled out postponing the December 2 vote for the World Cup hosts – England are one of four bidders for the 2018 tournament with a further five contesting the 2022 vote.

Blatter told a news conference in Zurich: "It is a sad day for football because it's a sad day in life and you cannot have always sunny days.

"Our society is full of devils and these devils you find them in football. We have to fight for fair play, we have to fight for respect and especially we have to fight that the people in charge of FIFA behave as they should do and if this is not the case then we have to intervene.

"As the president of FIFA I appeal to and I expect all members not only of the FIFA executive committee but all members of the FIFA family to behave in an honest, sincere and respectful manner because football is based on discipline, respect, fair play and solidarity.

"We have the necessary tools to intervene when necessary and that is what we have done today."

Four other FIFA officials – Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Ismael Bhamjee – have also been provisionally suspended from taking part in any football-related activity.

The Sunday Times has provided all their evidence to FIFA – 90 minutes of footage and a full transcript – and further revelations are expected at the weekend.