England's 2018 World Cup bid team are believed to have faxed letters of apology to the Spanish and Russian football associations as well as FIFA following comments alleged to have been made by Football Association chairman Lord Triesman.
The bid team, which enjoys support from the Premier League and new Prime Minister David Cameron, will now attempt to limit the damage caused by the reported claims made by Triesman about the Spanish and Russians who are also hoping to host the 2018 tournament.
The comments were made in a private conversation taped without Triesman's knowledge and reported in the Mail on Sunday.
England, Russia, joint Spanish-Portuguese and Dutch-Belgian bids, Australia and the United States are the countries in contention.
Triesman reportedly alleges that the Spanish were planning to bribe referees at this summer's World Cup and offer their support to the Russians if they were to help.
"Spain are looking for help...to bribe the referees," he was quoted in the Mail on Sunday.
"There's some evidence that the Spanish football authorities are trying to identify the referees...and pay them.
"My assumption is that the Latin Americans, although they've not said so, will vote for Spain.
"And if Spain drop out, because Spain are looking for help from the Russians to help bribe the referees in the World Cup, their votes may then switch to Russia."
In the reported tape recorded conversation with former aide Melissa Jacobs, Triesman also talks openly about the John Terry scandal, the governance of Premier League football clubs and criticises former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's election campaign as "awful."
The other bidders, although they are mainly focused on the 2022 tournament, are Australia, the United States, Japan, Qatar and South Korea.
League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan on Triesman. Bevan told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "I think it's very difficult and very embarrassing for Lord Triesman. But his position to me is secondary.
"The most important thing is to make sure we win the 2018 bid."
Asked if the bid could be won with Triesman still in his position, Bevan said: "Personally I doubt it."
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