The English Football Association has been accused of flouting bidding rules in its attempt to stage the 2018 World Cup – but 2022 hosts Qatar have been cleared of corruption allegations.

A Fifa report says the FA behaved improperly when trying to win the backing of a key voter.

Qatar faced a number of claims surrounding its bid, but the Gulf state is now in the clear.

In effect, Fifa’s long-awaited report ends talk of a re-vote.

The news that the FA has come in for criticism is a surprise given that it has repeatedly called for transparency in the voting process and accused Fifa of not doing enough to stamp out corruption.

The FA is accused of trying to “curry favour” with former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, who quit his role in 2011 amid bribery allegations.

Individuals involved in England’s bid could now face action following the conclusion of the two-year inquiry.

Fifa’s report, which also looks at the conduct of other bidding nations for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, makes a number of damaging points about the conduct of England bid officials.