"The FA Board has today agreed to abstain in the vote
for the Presidency of FIFA," the FA said in a statement on Thursday ahead
of the June 1 vote.
"There are a well-reported range of issues both recent
and current which, in the view of The FA board, make it difficult to support
either candidate.
The FA were left aghast by FIFA's executive committee after
being comprehensively beaten in the race to host the 2018 World Cup.
After attracting only two votes, one of them its own, FA
officials and bid representatives said that potential voters had lied to them
and that the voting system was flawed. Russia won the bid.
"The FA values its relationships with its international
football partners extremely highly. We are determined to play an active and
influential role through our representation within both UEFA and FIFA,"
the statement added.
"We will continue to work hard to bring about any changes
we think would benefit all of international football." Former FA chairman
David Triesman told a UK parliamentary inquiry last week that the 2018 bid
process was stained by corruption.
The inquiry also heard accusations that Qatar's successful
bid to host the 2022 tournament, backed by Asia confederation president Bin
Hammam, a Qatari, was also marred by corruption.
Qatar has denied the allegations while the FA have appointed
a barrister to lead an independent inquiry into Triesman's accusations.
FIFA, who suspended two executive committee members from
voting on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups following earlier allegations that they
had offered to sell their votes, is also to hold an investigation.
