Reynald Temarii expects an investigation into allegations of corruption to clear him of any wrongdoing.
Vice-president expects to be cleared in votes scandal
Fifa vice-president Reynald Temarii is confident an investigation into allegations he offered to sell his votes on the bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will clear him of any wrongdoing.
Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Temarii and fellow executive committee member Amos Adamu after they were accused of asking for money in exchange for their backing.
A
Sunday Times report claimed that Temarii had wanted NZ$3million (£1.4m) to fund a sports academy at the OFC headquarters.
Reporters from the paper posed as lobbyists for a consortium of private American companies who wanted to help secure the 2018 World Cup for the United States.
However, Tahitian Temarii, also president of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), fully expects to be cleared and has vowed to carry on.
Integrity
"I have no intention of resigning and have asked for a personal hearing in front of the Ethics Committee," Temarii told the sports website
www.insideworldfootball.com in Zurich.
"That's why I have stayed on. I am 100 per cent convinced of my integrity.
"I have certain elements which I believe will prove my innocence. I will prove I am an honest man. The Ethics Committee will tell me if I am right or wrong.
"I am not shocked by these revelations because I know what I did. And I know what I have to do.
"You have only heard 15 seconds of the interview. Maybe you should hear the full 45 minutes. Then you will understand everything."
Decided
Temarii and Adamu, who was accused by the same paper of asking for money for a personal project in return for his votes, face suspension or even expulsion from Fifa if they are found guilty.
Fifa has not said how long the investigation, headed by former Switzerland international Claudio Sulser, will take.
The hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be decided in Zurich on 2nd December by the 24 members of Fifa's executive committee.
Russia and England are facing joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium in the race for the 2018 edition with the United States, Japan, South Korea, Qatar and Australia competing for 2022.
