FOOTBALL: A Fifa executive committee member was caught asking for “hard cash” in return for votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, a former ethics committee official has claimed.

Les Murray said that no action was taken against the unnamed official, despite him reporting the demand to his superiors after being informed of it by people working for the Australia 2022 bid.

Murray questioned why the incident didn’t make it into Fifa’s dodgy “summary” of the Garcia graft investigation.

BRAZIL: The 44-year-old son of soccer great Pele has been released from jail and will remain free while he appeals against a conviction in a money laundering case that involved a drug gang.

Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, known as Edinho, was released on Wednesday night, a day after he was taken into custody in the coastal city of Santos.

Edinho was handed a 33-year prison sentence this year after being found guilty of laundering money to a drug gang.

FOOTBALL: The Greek FA upheld its decision to suspend league matches yesterday after fruitless talks with clubs on how to protect referees from attacks.

Games in the first, second and amateur third divisions remain suspended indefinitely following the street assault last week on senior ref Christoforos Zagrafos.

Officials from top Greek clubs held talks on Wednesday but the meeting ended in mutual recriminations and thinly veiled accusations of corruption.

FORMULA ONE: Ferrari confirmed yesterday that they have signed four-time champion Sebastian Vettel on a three-year contract.

The announcement came shortly after the marque revealed that Fernando Alonso will leave the team. He is expected to join McLaren.

McLaren are still mulling over whether Jenson Button or Kevin Magnussen will partner Alonso from 2015.