World Cup vote to go ahead: Blatter

The vote to decide the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will go ahead as planned on December 2 in Zurich, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Friday.

Blatter, speaking at a news conference that followed a two-day meeting of FIFA's executive committee, said a delay had never been an option despite the problems that have dogged the process.

The bidding process has been hit by a corruption scandal, with allegations of vote-selling by two FIFA executive committee members and collusion by unnamed bidding nations.

Blatter, however, did admit that on reflection the decision to vote on the destinations of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups on the same day was probably a mistake.

"I have said I assume the responsibility and I think it was not the right thing to do. I was convinced at the time it was the right decision."

Those decisions will be taken in Zurich as planned, said Blatter, adding there was never any question of changing that arrangement.

He also deflected most questions regarding the allegations made by the Sunday Times newspaper against the two members of the FIFA executive committee -- Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynard Temarii of Tahiti -- who have been accused by the paper of selling their votes.

He said that the case was now under the jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee which would report on the matter on November 17.