FIFA's ethics committee had launched an investigation after secret recordings of comments made by Triesman were published, alleging that Spain would drop their 2018 World Cup bid if rivals Russia helped bribe referees at this summer's World Cup.

Committee chairman Claudio Sulser has found no evidence to support those claims and will not pursue the matter any further.

However, he did warn that bids needed to comply with the "highest standards" of behaviour.

Triesman resigned as chairman of the FA and England 2018 bid team after his comments were published in a Sunday newspaper, and the bid team - now headed by British FIFA vice-president Geoff Thompson - will hope the ethics committee's finding will draw a line under the matter.

FIFA, who took evidence from Triesman, the FA and the Russian and Spanish FAs, said in a statement: "FIFA has found no indication that there is any basis to the allegations reported by Lord Triesman.

"In the light of the above-mentioned circumstances, the chairman of the FIFA ethics committee has decided not to pursue this matter any further.

"However, he emphasised that it is essential to the integrity, image and reputation of FIFA and the competitions that the conduct of the member associations and the bid committees during their bid preparations complies with the highest standards of ethical behaviour."

Triesman's letter to FIFA explained that he had just been passing on "speculation circulating among journalists in Europe about conspiracies around the world".

FIFA's statement continued: "Lord Triesman explained that this speculation was not an allegation on his part but was reported to him in a private capacity and was not known by either the Football Association or the England 2018 FIFA World Cup bid committee.

"This was confirmed by the FA.

"Lord Triesman added that the speculation expressed does not reflect his view or that of the FA or England 2018 and that the comments reproduced in the UK newspaper were never intended to be taken seriously.

"By means of letters sent to FIFA and to the football associations of Spain and Russia, the FA and the England 2018 FIFA World Cup bid committee have unreservedly apologised for, and expressed their "bitter regret" at the declarations made by Lord Triesman in his private capacity."

The 2018 World Cup is expected to go to Europe and England are up against Russia, plus joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium for the right to host the tournament.

FIFA's 24-man executive committee will vote on the 2018 and 2022 hosts on December 2.