However, the investigation found no evidence to support those claims, and the ethics committee will take no action either against England’s 2018 bid.

FIFA said in a statement: "FIFA has found no indication that there is any basis to the allegations reported by Lord Triesman

.

“In the light of the above-mentioned circumstances, the chairman of the FIFA ethics committee has decided not to pursue this matter any further.

“However, he emphasised that it is essential to the integrity, image and reputation of FIFA and the competitions that the conduct of the member associations and the bid committees during their bid preparations complies with the highest standards of ethical behaviour.”

Triesman, who resigned as chairman of the FA and England's 2018 bid after his comments were published in a national newspaper, wrote to FIFA to explain that he had just been passing on gossip.

FIFA’s statement continued: “Lord Triesman explained that this speculation was not an allegation on his part but was reported to him in a private capacity and was not known by either the Football Association or the England 2018 FIFA World Cup bid committee.

“This was confirmed by the FA.

“Lord Triesman added that the speculation expressed does not reflect his view or that of the FA or England 2018 and that the comments reproduced in the UK newspaper were never intended to be taken seriously.

“By means of letters sent to FIFA and to the football associations of Spain and Russia, the FA and the England 2018 FIFA World Cup bid committee have unreservedly apologised for, and expressed their ”bitter regret“ at the declarations made by Lord Triesman in his private capacity.”