FIFA’s president, Sepp Blatter, promised an “in-depth investigation” into allegations by a British newspaper, The Sunday Times, that two FIFA executive committee members offered to sell their votes in World Cup bidding. Voting for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is scheduled for Dec. 2.

The Sunday Times filmed the FIFA committee members, Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti, the Oceania Football Confederation president, asking for money for projects. Temarii said he wanted $2.3 million to finance a soccer academy in Auckland, New Zealand. Reporters posed as lobbyists for companies that wanted to return the World Cup to the United States. (The United States is bidding for the 2022 World Cup; it withdrew Friday from bidding for 2018.) No money changed hands.

Temarii said he made a mistake talking to undercover reporters about deals for his World Cup vote. “I’m confident about my integrity, but I made a mistake by talking in that way,” he said.

¶Liverpool’s relegation troubles deepened with a 2-0 loss at Everton in front of its new owners, John Henry and Tom Werner. Closer to the top of the standings, where Liverpool is more accustomed to being, second-place Manchester City beat Blackpool, 3-2, with two goals from Carlos Tevez. premier