Blatter's letter to members

FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted the bribery scandal has had a "very negative impact" on the world governing body.

Blatter has written to all 24 executive committee members promising a full investigation into allegations in the Sunday Times that two members were involved in a cash-for-votes World Cup bidding scandal.

Blatter's letter says: "I am sorry to have to inform you of a very unpleasant situation, which has developed in relation to an article published today in the Sunday Times titled 'World Cup votes for sale'."

He adds: "The information in the article has created a very negative impact on FIFA and on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. Some current and former members of the executive committee are mentioned in the article.

"FIFA will... open an in-depth investigation, which we will start immediately together with the FIFA ethics committee and the FIFA secretary general.

"I will keep you duly informed of any further developments. In the meantime, I would like to ask you to refrain from making any public comments on this matter."