Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has said the governing body will look into suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter's revelation that there was an agreement in place for the 2018 World Cup to go to Russia even before the vote took place.
The FA spent £21million on England's 2018 failed bid including £2.5million public money from local authorities, and Dyke said it would be "very nice" to get that money back.
Blatter told Russian news agency TASS that the tournament was always lined up to go to Russia with the 2022 World Cup to be held in the USA - until Michel Platini decided to throw his weight behind Qatar.
Dyke, giving evidence to the culture, media and sport committee, said: "We will look into detail at what Mr Blatter says. Yes I suspect the response [from him] will be 'I was misquoted'.
"If he says that then I think there is something to investigate.
"There's nothing Mr Blatter says that surprises me much. If he is saying 'we wanted Russia' and it looks like he wanted that fixed before the vote, it's suggesting that it was all fixed anyway."
Asked if the FA would look to reclaim the bid costs, Dyke replied: "We will obviously go back and look at it. I think it would be a good idea. But get the bid costs back from whom? From FIFA?
"I agree it would be very nice to get taxpayers' money back."
Dyke also said there was no planning document in existence for England to step in at short notice and host the World Cup should it be taken away from Russia or Qatar for any reason.
Source: PA
