Speaking at a press conference following the conclusion of a two-day FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich, the Swiss was questioned about the allegations which resurfaced earlier this week.

There were fresh allegations that Qatari company controlled by former FIFA Board member and vice-President Mohamed Bin Hammam paid almost £1.2 million ($2 million/€1.5 million) to former FIFA vice-President Jack Warner's family following the vote, which saw the 2018 World Cup awarded to Russia and the 2022 tournament going to the Gulf state.

Bin Hamamm was subsequently banned from football for life in 2011 after it was discovered he attempted to buy votes during his FIFA Presidential campaign while Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago and the former President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), resigned in the same year.

While Bin Hamamm and Warner cannot now be questioned by Garcia as part of his investigation into the bidding process for both World Cups, Blatter and the 12 members of the Executive Committee who remain and were involved in the decisions have been questioned.

American Garcia also plans to speak to members of the unsuccessful bidding teams which include Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States, who were in for the 2022 World Cup while he has already spoken to members of the England and Belgium-Netherlands bidding teams following their unsuccessful attempts to land the 2018 tournament.

A statement from Garcia, who was in Zurich this week, was read out which acknowledged the allegations and went on to say: "As with any allegations of misconduct by football officials, the Ethics Committee will take whatever action it feels is appropriate."

Michael Garcia is heading up the investigation into alleged corruption during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups ©AFP/Getty Images



Meanwhile, Blatter revealed he would be making another visit to Qatar later this year to monitor progress on the issue of workers' rights in the country.

Labour unions and rights groups have been campaigning to highlight unsafe conditions, unpaid salaries and contracts tying workers to their employer during work being carried out on building infrastructure and stadiums for the tournament.

FIFA Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger is in charge of monitoring the situation and he provided an interim report which was approved by the Executive Committee members.

The German claimed FIFA has asked authorities in Qatar for "honest reports" regarding workers rights, before adding: "My impression is that the people responsible realise how important it is to improve the situation and to start uttering threats right now makes no sense."

The ongoing crisis in Crimea was also broached, but Blatter dismissed suggestions the aggressive actions by 2018 World Cup hosts Russia toward neighbouring Ukraine would affect the tournament.

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