FIFA will examine evidence from a British newspaper alleging that two FIFA officials offered to sell their votes on which country will host the 2018 World Cup, said the world football's governing body on Sunday.

The newspaper, The Sunday Times, alleged that Amos Adamu, a Nigerian member of the world football governing body's executive committee, asked for 800,000 dollars (570,000 euros) to endorse one of the bid candidates.

It also said Reynald Temarii, a FIFA vice-president and president of the Oceania Football Confederation, wanted three million New Zealand dollars (2.3 million US dollars) for a sports academy.

Such deals are strictly forbidden under FIFA's rules.

Adamu and Temarii cannot be reached for comment. They are on the 24-member committee which votes on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Zurich in December's secret vote.

"FIFA and the FIFA ethics committee have closely monitored the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and will continue to do so," said FIFA in a statement. "FIFA has already requested to receive all of the information and documents related to this matter, and is awaiting to receive this material.

"In any case, FIFA will immediately analyze the material available and only once this analysis has concluded will FIFA be able to decide on any potential next steps."