Sepp Blatter is claiming there was an agreement in place to award the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and the United States before voting had begun.

In December 2010, the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively by FIFA's executive committee.

Blatter, 79, believes Fifa would not have become engulfed in a crisis had the USA been awarded the 2022 World Cup instead of Qatar.

The intervention of Nicolas Sarkozy changed the pre-planned course of events.

“In 2010 we had a discussion of the World Cup and then we went to a double decision,” said Blatter. “For the World Cups it was agreed that we go to Russia because it’s never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America. And so we will have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers.

“And everything was good until the moment when Sarkozy came in a meeting with the crown prince of Qatar, who is now the ruler of Qatar [Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani]. And at a lunch afterwards with Mr Platini he said it would be good to go to Qatar. And this has changed all pattern.

“There was an election by secret ballot. Four votes from Europe went away from the USA and so the result was 14 to eight. If you put the four votes, it would have been 12 to 10. If the USA was given the World Cup, we would only speak about the wonderful World Cup 2018 in Russia and we would not speak about any problems at FIFA.”