Fifa has confirmed it has received an email from the "whistleblower" who made a number of claims about Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid withdrawing the allegations. Phaedra Almajid, a former international media officer for Qatar 2022, said she fabricated the claims in revenge for losing her job.

Fifa said in a statement: "Fifa can confirm receipt of an email from a person claiming to have made allegations related to the Qatar 2022 bid process and now retracting these allegations."

Almajid had named the Fifa members Issa Hayatou, Jacques Anouma and Amos Adamu as having received bribes – and these claims were repeated in parliament in a culture, media and sport select committee hearing.

Fifa added: "In a consistent and correct way, we have repeatedly said that Fifa would not be making any comments on allegations. This policy will continue. We have repeatedly said that Fifa can only act upon evidence. This policy will continue. When only allegations are made and no evidence is given, Fifa always stands firmly by its members."

Almajid has sworn an affidavit saying she invented the allegations about the Qatar 2022 bid.