Sepp Blatter Admits FIFA Awarded 2018 World Cup to Russia Before Vote Took Place

Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter has indicated that it was decided the 2018 World Cup would be hosted by Russia before the voting even took place.

Blatter also revealed that it was "agreed" the World Cup would return to the USA in 2022 before UEFA chief Michel Platini angled for Qatar and changed the voting.

Talking to Russian outlet TASS (h/t Press Association Sport, via ESPN FC), the 79-year-old effectively admitted that the three bids that went up against Russia to host the 2018 tournament—England, Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium—never stood a chance:

"

In 2010 we had a discussion of the World Cup and then we went to a double decision. For the World Cups it was agreed that we go to Russia because it's never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America. And so we will have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers.

And everything was good until the moment when [then French president Nicolas] Sarkozy came in a meeting with the crown prince of Qatar, who is now the ruler of Qatar. And at a lunch afterwards with Mr Platini he said it would be good to go to Qatar. And this has changed all pattern.

There was an election by secret ballot. Four votes from Europe went away from the USA and so the result was 14 to eight. If you put the four votes, it would have been 12 to 10. If the USA was given the World Cup, we would only speak about the wonderful World Cup 2018 in Russia and we would not speak about any problems at FIFA.

"

Blatter and Platini are currently serving 90-day suspensions while an investigation is carried out over a £1.35 million payment made to the Frenchman in 2011.

FIFA has recently come under increasing scrutiny over corruption claims, and Blatter is set to be replaced as head of the organisation in February, with the seven presidential candidates having recently been confirmed, per BBC Sport.

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The allocation of tournaments has been widely questioned in the midst of the current turmoil surrounding FIFA, with reports in the summer suggesting Russia and Qatar could be stripped of the right to host their respective World Cups.

However, per the TASS report, Blatter insisted that Russia would "never lose the World Cup."

English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has suggested that Blatter's comments could prompt further investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, per BBC 5 Live's Richard Conway:

Certainly it seems there would be grounds for sanctioning such a move if indeed the decisions were made before the voting even took place—especially considering the amount of money spent by the losing bidders.

It simply adds to a growing number of scandals facing FIFA, and whoever is voted in as Blatter's successor in 2016 faces an enormous challenge in rehabilitating the organisation's reputation.