Fifa upholds suspensions for Adamu and Temarii

Adamu and Temarii's appeals have been thrown out by Fifa

Fifa has rejected the appeals by two former members suspended after allegations of corruption during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding races.

After a two-day meeting, Fifa's Appeal Committee upheld the decisions taken by the Ethics Committee in November.

Nigerian Amos Adamu, 58, must still serve a three-year ban, although he has confirmed he will take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Tahitian Reynald Temarii's suspension will remain at 12 months.

The pair were investigated by Fifa following a Sunday Times expose that alleged they had offered to sell their votes in the contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Neither was permitted to take part in the subsequent votes, which were won by Russia and Qatar respectively.

Adamu, who had hoped to re-contest his position on the Fifa Executive Committee when Africa holds its elections later this month, said: "I am extremely disappointed by the findings of the Fifa appeals committee.

"It had been my hope that the appeals committee would completely exonerate me and restore Nigeria's representation on the international football stage. Sadly this has not proved to be the case.

"My next step will be to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and I am currently taking legal advice in this regard and cannot comment further on this process.

"I count myself lucky to enjoy the support of my colleagues in Nigeria who have committed to support me in clearing my name."

The Confederation of African Football holds its annual assembly on 23 February in Khartoum, Sudan, where it will choose two of its four delegates to the 24-member Fifa body.

In Adamu's enforced absence, his compatriot and former Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Galadima is expected to run for a place on the committee.

Fifa's Appeal Committee, chaired by Bermudan judge Larry Mussenden, reviewed the cases of former ethics committee members Amadou Diakite, Slim Aloulou and Ahongalu Fusimalohi with more leniency.

Tunisian Aloulou's ban has been halved from two years to one, with his financial punishment reduced as well.

Malian Diakite also had his sentence reduced by a year but must still now sit out a two-year ban from any football-related activity.

Fusimalohi of Tonga received similar largesse and like Diakite, his fine was also reduced from 10,000 Swiss francs to 7,500 (£4,900).