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FIFA Execs To Be Questioned Over World Cup Vote

Swiss police have said they want to question 10 senior FIFA executives over the decision to award World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

The Executive Committee members - including Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko - were involved in the controversial vote for the 2018/2022 tournaments, which is under investigation by Swiss authorities.

The probe is separate from allegations of a £96m bribery racket stretching back 24 years, which saw seven senior FIFA officials arrested in an early morning raid on their five-star hotel in Zurich on Wednesday.

The interviews were due to take place as FIFA president Sepp Blatter opened the body's congress, saying that corruption scandals engulfing it bring "shame and humiliation".

The other nine of the ten due to be questioned have been named as Michel D'Hooghe (Belgium), Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast), Marios Lefkaritis (Cyprus), Angel Villar-Llona (Spain), Senes Erzik (Turkey, Worawi Makudi (Thailand), Issa Hayatou (Cameroon), Hany Abo Rida (Egypt) and Rafael Salguero (Guatemala).

It is not known whether the interviews with Swiss prosecuting authorities have started.

Andre Marty, spokesman for the Swiss attorney general's office, said on Wednesday night that prosecutors had chosen this week to carry out the interviews because they knew the executives would be in the country.

The FIFA congress started on Thursday afternoon and was expected to continue throughout Friday, when Mr Blatter was expected to win a fifth term as president.

US authorities have said nine different FIFA executives and five sports media and promotions executives face charges over allegations they were part of "rampant and systemic and deep-rooted" corruption running through football.

Seven of those nine men were arrested in Zurich on Wednesday at the request of the US Department of Justice who want them extradited.

Six of those seven have opposed extradition, meaning US authorities now have 40 days to submit formal extradition requests. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Former FIFA executives on the indictment are Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz, former FIFA executive committee member and South American Football Confederation president.

The US Department of Justice alleges that Mr Warner - who denies wrongdoing - solicited $10m in bribes from the South African government to host the 2010 World Cup.

He surrendered to police in Trinidad on Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued at the request of US authorities and was granted bail.

David Cameron has joined calls for Mr Blatter to quit and sponsors have demanded reform at FIFA, but Vladimir Putin gave the under-fire head of world football his backing and the majority of non-European football associations still appear to support him.

FIFA has said the vote for president will go ahead as planned, despite calls from UEFA and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius for the election to be postponed.

Sources close to Mr Blatter's only rival for the presidency, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, have told Sky News they want the election to go ahead as they believe there is a "strong possibility" that he can win.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said the latest FIFA allegations suggest "a deeply flawed and corrupt organisation".

He said it was important that commercial sponsors reflect on their links with FIFA and suggested they consider following the example set by Visa, which threatened to pull out of agreements unless there is change at the top of the governing body.

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said it was vital that Mr Blatter is replaced by "someone who believes in transparency and honesty".

Mr Blatter has not been named in the investigation and said he "welcomes" the probe into alleged misconduct.

He told the FIFA congress as it opened: "Those who are corrupt in football are in a small minority, like in society, but like in society, they must be caught and held responsible for their actions. Football cannot be the exception to the rule."