Sepp Blatter turns down request to give evidence

Blatter has said FIFA is focusing on their own investigation (AP)

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has declined an invitation to give evidence about World Cup bidding allegations to a Parliamentary committee.

Blatter has told the MPs on the culture, media and sport committee that FIFA is focusing on their own investigation into claims of bribery.

The allegations that two FIFA executive committee members were paid 1.5million US dollars to vote for Qatar 2022 were contained in a Sunday Times submission to the committee that was made public by members under parliamentary privilege.

A FIFA spokesman told Press Association Sport: "FIFA has immediately asked both the Football Association and the Sunday Times for a report on this matter.

"With this in mind, FIFA has informed the culture, media and sport committee that it is focusing on its own investigation and that there is therefore no need for the FIFA president to attend the committee."

FIFA members Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma from the Ivory Coast have denied the claims, as have Qatar's World Cup bid team.