Fifa: No revote on Qatar World Cup 2022 or Russia World Cup 2018
Fifa insists the World Cups in Qatar and Russia will go ahead as planned even after 10 officials were questioned by Swiss police on suspicion of criminal activity in the allocation of the tournament.
American and Swiss authorities sensationally swarmed upon football's governing body this morning, with the latter's investigation surrounding alleged corruption in the voting process which controversially awarded the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and Qatar respectively.
Yet despite the implication of high-level involvement, Fifa confirmed that there would be no reconsideration on the location of the two tournaments.
"No. No", said Fifa director of communications Walter de Gregorio when asked if Fifa would consider a revote, "The World Cup 2018 and 2022 will be played in Russia and Qatar."
"Russia and Qatar will be played. This is fact today", he later reiterated.
Read more: Police question Fifa officials on Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018 World Cup voting
In a press conference the communications director was careful not to be drawn into discussing an ongoing investigation, but was keen to stress that current Fifa president Sepp Blatter was not involved in any way.
"His [Blatter's] stress levels are a little higher than they were yesterday," said de Gregorio, "The president is not involved. He is the president and in two days there is an election. And if the 209 member associations elect him then he will president for the next four years."
Read more: Fifa officials arrested in Zurich on corruption charges ahead of presidential vote
"It is once again unfortunately Fifa suffering under these circumstances, it is certainly a difficult moment for us."
Fifa officials are in Zurich this week for Friday's 65th Annual Congress where representatives of all member associations will be asked vote on the presidency. The vote is set to go ahead as planned, with Blatter expected to once again beat off corruption scandals and single challenger Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.