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German FA wants 2022 World Cup vote probe

Theo Zwanziger believes Sepp Blatter's election will go ahead as planned © PA Photos

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German football federation (DFB) president Dr Theo Zwanziger has called for a new investigation into the 2022 World Cup vote.

The tournament was awarded to Qatar at a vote in December but, amid allegations the tournament was "bought", Zwanziger feels that the decision needs closer examination.

"There is a considerable degree of suspicion that one cannot simply sweep aside, and I must expect that awarding this World Cup under these conditions needs to be examined anew," he told German television.

However, Zwanziger does not believe there is any prospect of the FIFA presidential elections on Wednesday being delayed. Sepp Blatter is running unchallenged after Mohamed Bin Hammam's withdrawal.

The FA has sought to delay Blatter's coronation but Chuck Blazer, who blew the whistle on alleged bribery by senior figures, feels English football's governing body should have acted earlier.

"Unfortunately with them, everything is too little too late," Blazer said. "If they wanted other candidates they should have done things before the deadline.

"If they wanted to report malfeasance they shouldn't have waited for a Parliamentary hearing. The FA needs to learn to be ahead of the curve and not behind the game."

FA chairman David Bernstein knows the attempt has almost certainly come too late as 75% of the 208 associations would be required to back the proposal on Wednesday, but he feels it was worthwhile as a form of protest against the current situation.

"To get 150-odd votes clearly would be extremely difficult when we're starting from a standing start but there was actually a matter of principle involved," he said. "Myself and the FA feel that the situation FIFA has got itself into is in many ways unacceptable.

"Going forward in this situation, if he does, with a coronation rather than an election I don't think does anybody any good - including Mr Blatter."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.