FIFA keen to lay allegations to rest

FIFA want a speedy investigation to ensure Lord Triesman's recorded claims about corruption in football are just "crazy allegations", the world governing body's general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Tuesday.

Triesman was secretly recorded telling a friend that Spain would support Russia's bid for the 2018 World Cup in return for help bribing referees in South Africa. He has since resigned as chairman of the FA and England's 2018 bid.

"I want definitely to have something decided before the World Cup because some of the comments were about the World Cup. It has to be quick," Valcke told Press Association Sport.

Valcke has referred the case to FIFA's ethics committee, both to investigate Triesman's claims about Spain and Russia and to determine if any action should be taken against England's 2018 bid.

He added: "We are looking at the content of the allegations because it was about the World Cup and the bids, and also on Lord Triesman and the way he made these statements.

"It's good that it's happening 20 days prior to the World Cup so it gives us time to make sure that all of this is wrong and that they are crazy allegations.

"That's why the most important thing is to have a clear overview of what was said before the beginning of the World Cup."