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FA did seek 'background information' on rival World Cup bids

The Football Association has admitted that "media and corporate affairs consultants" were used to gather background information on the bidding process for the World Cup.

The Sunday Times has published claims that officials received information from former MI6 staff about the Russian and Qatari World Cup bids.

In a statement the FA said all its activities had been declared to Fifa ethics investigator Michael Garcia as part of his investigation into the bids.

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FIFA lodge criminal complaint over World Cup bidding

FIFA has announced it has lodged a criminal complaint with the Swiss attorney general Credit: PA

FIFA has announced it has lodged a criminal complaint with the Swiss attorney general regarding "possible misconduct of individual persons in connection with the awarding of the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups".

A statement on FIFA's website read:

"The subject of the criminal complaint is the possible misconduct of individual persons in connection with the awarding of the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups investigated by Michael Garcia, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee.

"In particular there seem to be grounds for suspicion that, in isolated cases, international transfers of assets with connections to Switzerland took place, which merit examination by the criminal prosecution authorities. The reports compiled by Michael Garcia and Cornel Borbély will be made available to the Office of the Attorney General via Hans-Joachim Eckert."

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FA did seek 'background information' on rival World Cup bids

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