A Somali football offical has claimed he was offered cash to vote for Sepp Blatter during Blatter's successful bid to become president of world governing body FIFA in 1998.
Blatter was elected as successor to Joao Havelange in June of that year, but Somali football association president Farah Addo has alleged he was offered money to switch his vote. Addo reportedly rejected the offer.
Blatter, who said he will stand for election again this summer, has dismissed the allegations.
Addo, also the vice-president of the African Football Confederation (CAF), told the Daily Mail: "We at CAF had decided to commit all 51 of our votes to Lennart Johansson from UEFA. Then I received a phone call from Somalia's ambassador to one of the Gulf states.
"He said: 'I have a friend who you know who wants to offer you $100,000 to switch your vote. Half in cash and the rest in sports equipment. They would send the cash to me or I could go to the Gulf to collect it.'," Addo said.
"The night before the election in Le Meridien Hotel in Paris people were lining up to receive money. Some told me they got $5,000 before the vote and the same the next day, after Blatter won".
PA