Lord Triesman has stood down as chairman of England's 2018 World Cup bid, reports the Daily Mail. It is believed that Triesman is not leaving his role as FA chairman.
A storm has erupted this weekend after a report in the Mail on Sunday that claimed Triesman alleged Spain were planning to bribe World Cup referees in South Africa.
It was thought Spain could call off its hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup if rival bidder Russia helped bribe referees this summer, according to the report.
The 66-year-old Labour peer claimed in a conversation with a former civil servant aide that votes from Spanish Fifa members would then switch to Russia for 2018.
Sky Sports News understands that a meeting took place at Wembley Stadium earlier on Sunday with FA officials involved in the England 2018 bid.
Reports of Lord Triesman's resignation as 2018 World Cup bid chairman have been welcomed by Sports Minister Hugh Robertson.
"It's entirely right that he should stand down and that the action should have been taken as quickly as is the case," he told Sky Sports News.
"It's very sad for him on a personal basis, but I think it's entirely the right decision.
"Clearly the bid is at a crucial stage. The bid book was handed in on Friday, that was judged to be a huge success and clearly today's story is very unwelcome."
Robertson revealed that the government would not be involved in discussions over Triesman's role at the FA.
"There are some serious questions to answer in terms of his position in the FA given that football is the national game and occupies such a prominent position in national life," he said.
"For us as a government, we have to tread very carefully.
"It always goes down extraordinarily badly domestically if government dictate to football what should happen and actually, at a time when relations are sensitive internationally, it is very, very bad news if a government starts to dictate to sports what happens.
"It's unpopular with Fifa and Uefa, so it is a decision for the FA board.
"I gather they are meeting today and we will await the outcome with interest."
England have moved quickly to limit the damage the reports may have caused their 2018 bid by faxing letters of apology to the Spanish and Russian football federations and distancing itself from its chairman's allegations.
Faxes have also been sent by the English bid team to world governing body Fifa apologising for Triesman's comments - insisting they do not support the bid chairman's claims.
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