The Football Association have tonight sought to draw a line under Lord Triesman's controversial departure with acting chief executive Alex Horne calling on fans to rally behind the England team this summer, and support the bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Triesman stepped down as chairman of the FA and England's 2018 bid following allegations he accused the Spanish and Russian football federations of bribery.
There are fears the saga has hugely damaged the World Cup bid, with FIFA tonight confirming their Ethics Committee are to look into Triesman's comments.
But in a statement tonight, Horne said: "We are now at a crucial time and the support of the fans and the nation as a whole has never been more important, especially for the World Cup.
"But it's equally important that we can demonstrate to FIFA and the rest of the world at this time that we are serious about our bid for the World Cup 2018.
"The gossip and the nonsense doesn't matter - we are now approaching the business end of the World Cup, where we actually have to perform on the field and that's all that matters."
Spanish football federation secretary general Jorge Perez Arias labelled the idea of his country trying to bribe World Cup referees as "ridiculous", while the head of Russia's bid, Aleksey Sorokin, called for football's governing body to "take appropriate measures".
The England 2018 World Cup bid team faxed letters of apology to both Spanish and Russian associations as they attempted to minimise the damage caused.
Press Association Sport has tonight obtained a copy of the apology sent to the Russian FA.
It reads: "You may be aware that English newspapers have reported comments attributed to Lord Triesman in which he is reported to cast aspersions on the integrity of FIFA, the Russian Football Federation, the Russia 2018/2022 Bidding Committee and the Bidding Process.
"England 2018 unreservedly apologises for these comments, for any suggestions of any improper behaviour on the part of any members of the Russian Football family, our fellow Bidders and for any express or implied criticism of the Russian Football Federation or of FIFA.
"The comments reported to have been made by Lord Triesman in no way represent the views of England 2018, any employee, Director, Ambassador, Consultant or adviser to the Bid.
"England 2018 bitterly regrets any damage to the integrity of the Russian Football Family, FIFA or any of its Member Associations caused by these comments. We are available to discuss this matter at your convenience."
Geoff Thompson has replaced Triesman as head of the England 2018 World Cup bid team while FA board members David Sheepshanks and Roger Burden have been drafted in as joint acting chairmen of the FA.
Meanwhile, minister for sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson is certain England's bid team can recover and earn worldwide support ahead of the decision on who will host the showpiece event.
"I don't think anybody would pretend it's been particularly helpful," Robertson told BBC Radio Five Live.
"But London 2012 went through exactly this process. You may remember there was an extraordinarily unhelpful Panorama programme that attacked the entire integrity of the ICC. After that, London 2012 were told that their bid was dead, but they overcame that.
"Whatever Lord Triesman may or may not have said, he didn't attack Sepp Blatter personally, or the entire integrity of either FIFA or UEFA.
"In some ways this is an offence of a much lesser order."
Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Olympics, also insists England's World Cup bid still has "solid foundations".
Coe is also on the 2018 bid board and he and fellow 2012 veteran Sir Keith Mills spent the weekend formulating a rescue plan.
Coe is understood to have briefed FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke and will speak to FIFA president Sepp Blatter about the situation.
"This has been a traumatic 48 hours but this does not become a bad bid overnight," Coe told Press Association Sport.
"Solid foundations are in place, we have the best venues, the most passionate fans, the best market for sponsors and an unparalleled ability to deliver this tournament in safe and secure surroundings.
"The only thing we don't have is the private views of the former chairman."
And Former England keeper Peter Shilton added: "I don't think it will have any real impact in the long term with the bid. One person does not make a bid.
"Everybody makes mistakes, it has happened in the past and will happen in the future.
"I am part of the World Cup bid, and feel it does not take anything away."
There are fears the saga has hugely damaged the World Cup bid, with FIFA tonight confirming their Ethics Committee are to look into Triesman's comments.
But in a statement tonight, Horne said: "We are now at a crucial time and the support of the fans and the nation as a whole has never been more important, especially for the World Cup.
"But it's equally important that we can demonstrate to FIFA and the rest of the world at this time that we are serious about our bid for the World Cup 2018.
"The gossip and the nonsense doesn't matter - we are now approaching the business end of the World Cup, where we actually have to perform on the field and that's all that matters."
Spanish football federation secretary general Jorge Perez Arias labelled the idea of his country trying to bribe World Cup referees as "ridiculous", while the head of Russia's bid, Aleksey Sorokin, called for football's governing body to "take appropriate measures".
The England 2018 World Cup bid team faxed letters of apology to both Spanish and Russian associations as they attempted to minimise the damage caused.
Press Association Sport has tonight obtained a copy of the apology sent to the Russian FA.
It reads: "You may be aware that English newspapers have reported comments attributed to Lord Triesman in which he is reported to cast aspersions on the integrity of FIFA, the Russian Football Federation, the Russia 2018/2022 Bidding Committee and the Bidding Process.
"England 2018 unreservedly apologises for these comments, for any suggestions of any improper behaviour on the part of any members of the Russian Football family, our fellow Bidders and for any express or implied criticism of the Russian Football Federation or of FIFA.
"The comments reported to have been made by Lord Triesman in no way represent the views of England 2018, any employee, Director, Ambassador, Consultant or adviser to the Bid.
"England 2018 bitterly regrets any damage to the integrity of the Russian Football Family, FIFA or any of its Member Associations caused by these comments. We are available to discuss this matter at your convenience."
Geoff Thompson has replaced Triesman as head of the England 2018 World Cup bid team while FA board members David Sheepshanks and Roger Burden have been drafted in as joint acting chairmen of the FA.
Meanwhile, minister for sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson is certain England's bid team can recover and earn worldwide support ahead of the decision on who will host the showpiece event.
"I don't think anybody would pretend it's been particularly helpful," Robertson told BBC Radio Five Live.
"But London 2012 went through exactly this process. You may remember there was an extraordinarily unhelpful Panorama programme that attacked the entire integrity of the ICC. After that, London 2012 were told that their bid was dead, but they overcame that.
"Whatever Lord Triesman may or may not have said, he didn't attack Sepp Blatter personally, or the entire integrity of either FIFA or UEFA.
"In some ways this is an offence of a much lesser order."
Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Olympics, also insists England's World Cup bid still has "solid foundations".
Coe is also on the 2018 bid board and he and fellow 2012 veteran Sir Keith Mills spent the weekend formulating a rescue plan.
Coe is understood to have briefed FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke and will speak to FIFA president Sepp Blatter about the situation.
"This has been a traumatic 48 hours but this does not become a bad bid overnight," Coe told Press Association Sport.
"Solid foundations are in place, we have the best venues, the most passionate fans, the best market for sponsors and an unparalleled ability to deliver this tournament in safe and secure surroundings.
"The only thing we don't have is the private views of the former chairman."
And Former England keeper Peter Shilton added: "I don't think it will have any real impact in the long term with the bid. One person does not make a bid.
"Everybody makes mistakes, it has happened in the past and will happen in the future.
"I am part of the World Cup bid, and feel it does not take anything away."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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