The Dutch football association KNVB is to investigate allegations of bribery surrounding the joint bid with Belgium to host the 2018 World Cup.

The Volkskrant said on Saturday that the joint campaign paid bribes to an African lobbyist who is also alleged to have bribed African football bosses to give the 2022 competition to Qatar.

The paper has documents showing €10,000 was paid to Amadou Diallo in contravention of Fifa rules. Diallo has admitted having several meetings with representatives of the Dutch-Belgian bid but denies having accepted any money.

The Belgian football association has admitted paying the money, but said it was to cover the cost of Diallo’s travel and lobby work.

The KNVB said in a statement it had cooperated fully with an earlier Fifa investigation into the way the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to Russia and Qatar.

‘The Dutch-Belgian bid was completely exonerated in the report, which was drawn up under the leadership of Michael Garcia of the ethics committee… the report did not identify any problems with the bid,’ the KNVB quoted the report as saying.