THE Australian government is considering legal action against FIFA to retrieve the $40 million spent on Australia’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup amid allegations of corruption by eventual winner Qatar.

A Fairfax report says Federal Minister for Sport Peter Dutton is ‘considering all options’ in the wake of recent revelations that Qatari officials allegedly paid cash to FIFA officials to secure votes.

But he added they would wait for the results of FIFA’s independent investigation conducted by Michael Garcia, which is due in mid-July, before proceeding.

“I think it’s one step at a time, and the first step is to wait and see what happens in the process; wait and see what the world body does. And then I think we can consider options,” Dutton said.

Qatar won the bid convincingly while Australia only picked up one vote in the December 2010 ceremony. Revelations in recent times allege some $US5 million in cash as well lavish gifts were provided by former FIFA vice-president Mohammed bin Hammam.

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy had previously called for the bid money to be returned.