(CNN) -- World football's governing body FIFA is investigating a British newspaper report that two of its officials solicited a bribe in exchange for supporting particular countries' bids to host the World Cup tournament.
In a statement, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said: "FIFA will immediately analyse the material available and only once this analysis has concluded will FIFA be able to decide on any potential next steps".
Blatter was writing to members of the body's executive committee after the Sunday Times published an article under the headline "World Cup votes for sale".
"FIFA and the FIFA Ethics Committee have closely monitored the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and will continue to do so," Blatter continued in the open letter.
"FIFA has already requested to receive all of the information and documents related to this matter, and is awaiting to receive this material," he said.
Blatter said he would not make further comments and asked committee members not to do so either.
CNN
