VOA标准英语2010年-FIFA Officials Banned Over World Cup B

Soccer's world governing body FIFA has banned two of its executives for offering to sell their World Cup bidding votes for cash, just two weeks ahead of the final decision. It follows an undercover investigation¹ by the Sunday Times newspaper of London. There are fears, however, that the exposure could backfire on England's own bid to host the competition.
There have long been allegations of corruption² at the highest levels of world sport - and now there's evidence to bear them out. Amos Adamu of Nigeria will be banned from the sport for three years, and the president of the Oceania Football Federation³, Reynald Temarii, faces a one year ban. They've also both been fined.
FIFA'S ethics⁴ committee also suspended and fined four other officials for their alleged⁵ roles in the bribery⁶ scandal. All six men can appeal their punishments.
Ethics committee chairman Claudio Sulser admitted the affair had damaged FIFA.
"When one talks of FIFA," Sulser said, "there is generally a negative attitude out there, there's talk of corruption. And so I ask myself the following question: this is rather peculiar⁷, but on the other hand it's no joke because FIFA is a big organization with many interests and where there are many interests, certain things can go awry⁸. The difference, now, is we're trying to work in complete transparency."England is one of the countries bidding to host the 2018 World Cup and the corruption claims could have ramifications⁹ here, too. The original investigation was carried out by the Sunday Times newspaper. Other FIFA officials have been critical of the British media's focus on exposing corruption within their organization and that could cost England votes. Martin Lipton, chief football writer for the Daily Mirror newspaper, said, "Even the bid leaders themselves accept that it has been done. From my perspective the Sunday Times investigation had a great deal of merit - it exposed something that's happening now."Lipton said the potential prize of hosting the World Cup means it's little surprise that some try to fix the result. "It always comes down to who's friends with who and it always comes down to a little bit of money. It's always been that way, there's no change," Lipton said. "It's a huge economic benefit, it's as simple as that. The sort of money that's going to slosh around in terms of stadium investment, infrastructure¹⁰ investment, and also for the economy of the country - there will be billions coming in to any country that hosts the World Cup."Back at Wembley, England fans say they're still in favor of England's bid for the World Cup despite the setback¹¹.
"I don't really care. As long as we get it, we deserve it, we can't seem to win it so we might as well hold it!" one fan said.
The vote on who will host both the 2018 and the 2022 World Cup finals will take place on December 2 in Zurich, Switzerland. England will be sending their big guns - Prime Minister David Cameron and former captain David Beckham will be there. They're up against Russia, and joint¹² bids from Spain and Portugal, and the Netherlands and Belgium.
The U.S., meanwhile, is sending former president Bill Clinton to back its 2022 bid. They'll face up against Qatar, South Korea, Japan and Australia.
No matter which countries win, the claims of corruption at the highest level are unlikely to disappear.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

7 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

8 awry   

adj.扭曲的，错的

参考例句：

• She was in a fury over a plan that had gone awry. 计划出了问题，她很愤怒。
• Something has gone awry in our plans.我们的计划出差错了。

9 ramifications   

n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. 这些变化注定会造成许多难以预料的社会后果。
• What are the ramifications of our decision to join the union? 我们决定加入工会会引起哪些后果呢？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

11 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

12 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。