It is set to involve John McBeth, the Scot who was due to become Britain's new FIFA vice-president this, but who is now in trouble after he claiming African and Caribbean associations were tainted by corruption and greed.

 

The British FIFA vice-presidency will now remain vacant until the ethics committee has made a decision.

 

McBeth has also agreed not to attend this week's FIFA Congress.

 

The CONCACAF federation - countries from the Caribbean, north, south and central America - have sent a letter of condemnation to FIFA branding McBeth's remarks "racist".

 

FIFA and McBeth said in a joint statement: "FIFA and John McBeth are in agreement that his recent statements to the media in Scotland shall be submitted to the FIFA ethics committee for examination.

 

"Until a final decision has been reached by the FIFA ethics committee, the British associations' vice-presidency of the FIFA executive committee is to remain vacant.

 

"Mr McBeth will not attend this week's FIFA events in Zurich, i.e. the inauguration ceremony for the Home of FIFA and the FIFA Congress."

 

In his interview with a number of Scottish Sunday newspapers, McBeth, the president of the Scottish FA, described FIFA president Sepp Blatter as a "tricky customer" and claimed poor nations in Africa have different ethics from the British "fair play" attitude.

 

McBeth said: "I know two or three (at FIFA) whom I'd want to count my fingers after shaking hands with them.

 

"If I come across corruption, I have to expose it.

 

"I must try to stay true to my beliefs and hope I don't get seduced.

 

"By and large, the four British countries know what fair play is and when we're stepping out of line.

 

"But, as soon as you hit Africa, it's a slightly different kettle of fish.

 

"They're poor nations and want to grab what they can.

 

"I presume the Caribbean is much the same - they just come at it in a different way."

 

CONCACAF president Jack Warner, who is from Trinidad and Tobago and is one of seven FIFA vice-presidents, reacted with outrage to the remarks.

 

Warner said: "The entire confederation met this morning and we decided to send a letter of condemnation to FIFA that this is unacceptable.

 

"Why did he only mention African and Caribbean countries?

 

"To me, that smacks of racism of the worst kind. We all feel deeply insulted and we will support any moves to send him back to Scotland where he belongs."

 

It is understood Warner told yesterday's executive committee meeting he was seriously offended by McBeth's remarks.

 

It now seems likely McBeth may have to step down and the home nations hold another election to find the person to succeed Scottish lawyer David Will, who is retiring after 17 years.

 

FIFA acted after first ascertaining whether the quotes attributed to McBeth were accurate.

 

In the interview, McBeth also said he beat FA chairman Geoff Thompson in the election among the four home nations because "the rest of the world hates their (England's) guts".