According to a FIFA official, should evidence of corruption be found with regard to the awarding of hosting rights to Qatar and Russia, the two countries could find themselves out of the opportunity to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"If evidence exists that Qatar and Russia received the (World Cup) awards only thanks to bribes, then the wards could be annulled," FIFA head of auditing and compliance committee Domenico Scala told a Swiss newspaper following the mounting bribery claims against FIFA vice president Jack Warner.

As noted by the AFP report, Scala's comments are the first by a senior FIFA official to discuss the possibility of either Russia or Qatar being stripped of the right to host the world's biggest sporting spectacle.

Accusations were brought to light Sunday that Warner pocketed a $10 million payment from South Africa during the bidding process for the 2010 World Cup, who also allegedly sought a $7 million bribe from Egypt for votes, reports the AFP.

He was arrested Friday at the request of US authorities but is currently free on $400,000 bail pending a ruling on his extradition case.

Citing a BBC probe, the AFP report says that the 72-year-old used personally used the $10 million payment, laundering the money through a supermarket chain, made cash withdrawals, paid off his credit cards, and took personal loans.

The BBC, citing documents it has seen, said that in 2008, funds totaling $10 million were moved from the FIFA's bank into an account under the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association of Football (CONCACAF), which had Warner as its president at the time.

"Warner was the one who approached us from FIFA. He said he could guarantee us seven votes. He asked for $1 million for each vote," former Egyptian sports minister Aley Eddine Helal said.

The former schoolteacher and Trinidadian justice minister has denied all allegations against him.