'Russia, Qatar could lose the right to host World Cups'
Domenico Scala, head of FIFA's auditing and compliance committee, said that Russia and Qatar could lose the right to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups if evidence of corruption is found.
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"If evidence exists that Qatar and Russia received the (World Cup) awards only thanks to bribes, then the awards could be annulled," Scala told the Swiss newspaper Sonntagszeitung.
He however said that "this evidence has not been provided" so far.
This is the first time a senior FIFA official even opened up the possibility of either Russia or Qatar being stripped of the right to host the event.
Swiss judicial authorities are already probing the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World cups, as part of a major corruption scandal.
Around 14 FIFA officials and sports executives are also accused by US prosecutors of taking part in a sweeping kickback scheme 20 years involving a total of $150 million in bribes.
The revelations led to the resignation of FIFA President Sepp Blatter last week, just four days after his reelection for a fifth term.
Although Blatter has not been charged and has denied any wrongdoing, allegations are swirling around his one-time right-hand man James Warner.
Accusations surfaced on Sunday that Warner sought a $7 million bribe from Egypt for votes in the bidding process for the 2010 World Cup, and that he pocketed a $10 million payment from South Africa -- the eventual host.
South Africa on Sunday "categorically" denied it paid bribes to secure the World Cup.
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