FIFA's handling of the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup was "a stitch-up, a charade and a sham", a senior figure behind England's failed bid has blasted.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter admitted to the Russian press this week that football's governing body had decided to award Russia with the competition before the bidding process had even taken place.
Simon Johnson, chief operating officer of England's 2018 bid, believes they have a strong case to demand the £21million they spent on the bid on the grounds of breath of contract.
Britain's Prince William, David Beckham and Prime Minister David Cameron join delegates from the England 2018 bid team - Reuters
"We've long thought the process was not fair, objective or transparent," Johnson told Sky Sports.
"We've learnt over the last year it was probably corrupt and we discovered yesterday through Sepp Blatter's own admission that the process was a stitch-up, a charade and a sham.
"To have had it confirmed FIFA had actually pre-agreed that it was going to be awarded to Russia really does show it was a stitch-up. It was rigged from the beginning and as a result my clear view is that FIFA was in clear breach of the contract it entered into with England as a bidder.
"The FA now has every right now in my opinion to claim back damages from FIFA for breach of contract and recover the full amount the FA, host cities and sponsors paid for the bid."
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