FA demand answers from FIFA regarding World Cup 2018

The English Football Association has contacted the governing body to demand answers to ``important questions'' after Sepp Blatter revealed a deal had been fixed to hand Russia the 2018 World Cup before the vote.

An FA spokesman said: “The FA has been reviewing its legal position and, as a result, has written to FIFA asking a series of important questions about the process by which the 2018 World Cup was awarded to Russia.

“The questions are all based on statements made by Mr Blatter in the interviews he gave to the TASS news agency and the Financial Times last week. In the meantime we reserve the FA’s position legally.”

It is understood the questions include when exactly the agreement was made for Russia to host the World Cup, and who were the people involved in that agreement.

Blatter had told Russian news agency TASS that there had been an agreement for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup – and for the United States to stage the 2022 tournament until Michel Platini decided to back eventual winners Qatar.