England Winces as FIFA Bureaucracy Tackles Bribery Allegations

FIFA will investigate claims that Spain was trying to bribe referees at the World Cup, reports the Province.com website.

English FA boss David Triesman quit Sunday after being secretly recorded suggesting Russia would help Spain bribe referees at the World Cup in return for gaining its rival's support to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament.

The investigation is a further setback to England's faltering bid to host the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

The Mail on Sunday newspaper taped the 66-year-old Triesman two weeks ago talking with a former aide, but didn't publish the allegations until after he presented England's official bid book.

The bid board had hoped that replacing Triesman with Geoff Thompson, a vice-president of FIFA, would draw a line. But Russia said on Monday it hadn't received a letter of apology the FA claimed to have sent regarding his allegations.