FA to withhold vote

London - The English Football Association (FA) is to abstain from voting in the upcoming FIFA presidential election between Sepp Blatter and Mohamed bin Hammam, it was announced on Thursday.

FA chairman David Bernstein said in a statement there were a "range of issues" which made it "difficult" to vote for incumbent Blatter or Asian football chief Bin Hammam.

"The FA Board has today agreed to abstain in the vote for the Presidency of FIFA," Bernstein said.

"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 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.

"We will continue to work hard to bring about any changes we think would benefit all of international football."

English officials expressed outrage after their bid for the 2018 World Cup ended in humiliation last December, garnering just two votes to be removed in the first round.

Since then a British parliamentary inquiry has heard testimony from English officials alleging demands for bribes and favours by FIFA voters.