FA chairman Lord Triesman resigned after a British newspaper claimed that he suggested Spain could end its bid for the 2018 World Cup if rival bidder Russia helped bribe referees at the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

Triesman, 66, also quit as chairman of England's 2018 World Cup Bid Board, two days after he and England soccer star David Beckham delivered England's 1,752-page bid book to FIFA chairman Sepp Blatter in Zurich.

The Mail on Sunday claimed to have obtained a tape recorded conversation of Triesman talking to her former aide Melissa Jacobs, who said she had a relationship with Triesman in 2008.

FA chairman Lord Triesman (L) resigned after a British newspaper claimed that he suggested Spain could end its bid for the 2018 World Cup if rival bidder Russia helped bribe referees at the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

During the conversation, Triesman said: "My assumption is that the Latin Americans, although they've not said so, will vote for Spain. And if Spain drop out, because Spain are looking for help from the Russians to help bribe the referees in the World Cup, their votes may then switch to Russia."

Hours after the news hit the headline of British media, Triesman said: "I have decided to resign as chairman of The FA and the 2018 Bid Board."

"A private conversation with someone whom I thought to be a friend was taped without my knowledge and passed to a national newspaper. That same friend has also chosen to greatly exaggerate the extent of our friendship.

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