Jacques Rogge, the President of the IOC, revealed that he expected a decision to be reached within the next few weeks. 

"We have asked for clarification from the BBC and then the Ethics Commission will look into the matter, and will then decide which persons have to be investigated," Rogge said.

"The Commission is working with due diligence.

"In my humble opinion, it will not last for months."

Panorama, broadcast last month three days before FIFA voted on which countries should host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, claimed that Hayatou had accepted bribes.

According to the broadcast, a list of secret payments made by now defunct marketing company ISL included one of 100,000 French francs to Hayatou in 1995.

The 64-year-old Hayatou, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a member of FIFA's ruling Executive Committee, insisted the money was given to CAF to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

The fact that Hayatou did not become a member of the IOC until 2001 does not prevent the IOC investigating the case, Rogge claimed.

"The whole issue is about the reputation of the IOC potentially being tainted if facts are proven for a person that was not an IOC member at that time," he said.

But Hayatou and Amos Adamu, a Nigerian who served on FIFA's Executive Committee who was suspended for three years after being accused by The Sunday Times of being prepared to accept £500,000 ($793,000) to sell his World Cup vote, have been criticised for their roles in the scandal.

Dan Ngerem, the former President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria and a prominent businessman, claimed that Hayatou and Adamu had to accept the blame for the positions they now find themselves in.

"I keep saying at any level where you are representing your country, your people or yourself, you must be above suspicion," Ngerem told Nigerian newspaper Vanguard.

"Is Hayatou the only one in FIFA that they are pointing fingers at him?

"He should have avoided circumstances that would warrant an institution like the BBC saying he is corrupt.

"Adamu should cease the fight and keep it for another day.

"You can see the circumstances, that tape was not manufactured except he wants tell us he wasn't the one on that tape."

Ngerem also claimed that the latest scandals are damaging Africa's reputation abroad.

"I don't care whether they were set up or not, why is that only blacks are predominantly involved in this mess?" he said.

"This is an opportunity for the Government and Sports ministries in the continent to also get involved and ensure that only people of high integrity are nominated to represent their countries."

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