Reports of Lord Triesman's resignation as 2018 World Cup bid chairman have been welcomed by Sports Minister Hugh Robertson.
Triesman is also under considerable pressure to step down as chairman of the Football Association following comments he is alleged to have made about the Spanish and Russian football federations, who are among England's rivals to host the 2018 tournament.
"It's entirely right that he should stand down and that the action should have been taken as quickly as is the case," Robertson said.
Earlier, the 2018 bid team faxed letters of apology to the rival FAs as well as to Fifa, after Triesman reportedly alleged that the Spanish were planning to bribe referees at this summer's tournament and offer their support to the Russians if they were to help.
The comments were made in a private conversation taped without Triesman's knowledge and reported in the Mail on Sunday.
England, Russia, joint Spanish-Portuguese and Dutch-Belgian bids, Australia and the United States are the countries in contention.
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