England's 2018 World Cup bid team have faxed letters of apology to the Spanish and Russian football associations as well as FIFA following comments alleged to have been made by Football Association chairman Lord Triesman, Press Association Sport understands.
The bid team, which enjoys support from the Premier League and new Prime Minister David Cameron, will attempt to limit the damage caused by the reported claims made by Triesman about the Spanish and Russians who are also hoping to host the 2018 tournament.
The comments were made in a private conversation taped without Triesman's knowledge and reported in the Mail on Sunday.
England, Russia, joint Spanish-Portuguese and Dutch-Belgian bids, Australia and the United States are the countries in contention.
Triesman reportedly alleges that the Spanish were planning to bribe referees at this summer's World Cup and offer their support to the Russians if they were to help.
Source: PA
