ZURICH, Switzerland, (CMC):

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke claimed yesterday his comments in an email to FIFA vice-president Jack Warner had been misconstrued.

Warner released an email from Valcke on Sunday which seemed to suggest that Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam and Qatar had 'bought' the 2022 World Cup.

"Mr Warner has published an email which I sent to him. I'd like to clarify that I may use in an emai - a "lighter" way of expression by nature - a much less formal tone than in any form of correspondence," Valcke said in a statement.

"Having said that, when I refer to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in that email, what I wanted to say is that the winning bid used their financial strength to lobby for support.

"They were a candidate with a very important budget and have used it to heavily promote their bid all around the world in a very efficient manner.

He added: "I have at no time made, or was intending to make, any reference to any purchase of votes or similar unethical behaviour. I would also like to clarify that there is, as I said yesterday, no investigation open at FIFA regarding the 2022 FIFA World Cup host election."

Warner released the email after he and Bin Hammam were on Sunday suspended by FIFA pending an investigation into allegations of corruption.

The correspondence quoted Valcke as saying: "For MBH (Bin Hammam), I never understood why he was running. If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore JSB (Sepp Blatter). Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they (Qatar) bought the WC."

Bin Hammam had been expected to run against FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Wednesday's presidential election but withdrew after being hauled before the ethics committee.

Following Sunday's ruling by the ethics committee, Warner (CONCACAF) and Bin Hammam (Asia) have been replaced as heads of their continental governing bodies.