The Football Association is "not interested" in stepping in to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups if they are taken away from Russia or Qatar.
In the wake of the FIFA corruption scandals, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale put England forward as a ready-made replacement to host either tournament if necessary earlier this week.
But new FA chief executive Martin Glenn has denied that his organisation is thinking in those terms, telling Sky News: "We are really not interested. It has gone to Russia in good faith, they have not had a World Cup, why shouldn't they play there, and 2022 was never going to be in Europe so it should be outside of Europe. So we support the World Cup being dispersed around the world, as the name suggests."
Speaking publicly for the first time since FBI investigations sent shockwaves through FIFA that led to Sepp Blatter stepping down as president, Glenn said he was relieved change is finally happening at the world governing body.
"We are very pleased that there is going to be change at FIFA, and we will work with UEFA and FIFA to make sure there is progress. We need someone who is strong and will professionalise the set-up," he added.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach also told Sky News that the way his organisation has remodelled itself following its own Salt Lake City scandal can be an example for FIFA.
"It's absolutely important for FIFA to regain credibility for FIFA so I can only advise that they work hard at reforms and work hard on addressing these grave allegations," he said.
"We had our difficulties 15 years ago and we did two things. We took swift action with regard to members, 10 members expelled or retired, and we undertook reforms.
"I am very proud that we elected athletes to the IOC, we have a system of accountability, strict rules on the election of host countries and we have even more reforms for transparency coming."
Source: PA
