Minister: England is 'ready to host 2022 World Cup'

John Whittingdale said there would be a "very strong" case for rerunning bidding for the 2022 World Cup if the original process was corrupt.

He said: "If there is evidence the bid process was corrupt then I think the case for rerunning it is very strong."

England is ready to host the 2022 World Cup if it is stripped from Qatar in the wake of allegations of corruption and bribery in Fifa, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has said.

Mr Whittingdale said the country has the facilities and mounted an impressive, if unsuccessful, bid to host the 2018 World Cup, and so could host the 2022 event if asked by Fifa.

He spoke as MPs asked whether England could step in to host the World Cup if allegations that the bid process for the Qatar tournament was corrupt are found to be true.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko says there was no risk of Russia losing the 2018 soccer World Cup finals after the United States said it was investigating the bidding process.

"There is no risk to Russia hosting the World Cup," Mutko was quoted as saying by RIA news agency.

David Beckham has described Fifa's failings as "despicable, unacceptable and awful."

The former England captain said he was left with a "sick feeling" after being misled by Fifa executive committee members who pledged their support for the FA's bid to host the 2018 World Cup, which was eventually awarded to Russia.

Qatar's Foreign Minister has accused critics of "prejudice and racism" as he said there was "no way" his country could be stripped of hosting the 2022 World Cup.

Khaled al-Attiyah hinted that the government had information revealing who was behind the "bashing campaign", claiming the country was being targeted by anti-Arab feeling.

Qatar beat Australia, Japan, the United States and South Korea for the right to host the competition, sparking allegations of corruption.

The White House has said a change in the leadership at Fifa is an "opportunity" for the footballing body to improve its image.

In a statement, the office said Fifa would "benefit" from new leadership, following the resignation of incumbent president Sepp Blatter.

The FBI's investigation into allegations of corruption at Fifa includes scrutiny into the body's decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, according to a US law enforcement official.

The official said the inquiry was looking "beyond" the recent claims made against a number of senior Fifa workers, including the leadership of outgoing president Sepp Blatter, who announced his resignation yesterday.

Meanwhile, Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke - who has been implicated in a letter - said he does not understand the accusations against him.

He said he sees no reason why he should not remain in the post, adding: "I don't feel guilty".

Read: Letter instructing $10m payment addressed to Valcke