FIFA president

In an interview published on Friday in the Expresso newspaper, Solo said Blatter grabbed her rear end shortly before the two appeared onstage at the annual football awards event.

A representative for Solo confirmed to the Associated Press that the report was accurate and said the former goalkeeper for the US women's national team had no further comment on the matter.

Blatter could not immediately be reached for comment by AP, but the embattled former head of football's governing body told the Guardian newspaper: "This allegation is ridiculous."

"I'm not concerned about trouble and violence in 2018. I have full confidence in Russian authorities, they are taking this matter very, very seriously," he said in Doha on Friday (AEDT).

More than 100 England fans were injured following clashes with Russian supporters in Marseille before their group game at Euro 2016, causing UEFA to threaten the team with expulsion from the tournament.

There have been fears of more trouble at next year's tournament. But Infantino said the organisers were already putting plans in place to curb any hooliganism.