Judge Hans-Joachim Eckert has admitted that he has been taken aback by criticism of his report into the bidding process of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments.
The German released his findings of the report from US attorney Michael Garcia's investigation into the bidding processes of Russia and Qatar, which cleared the nations of any wrongdoing, but criticised both England and Australia for their behaviour in the process.
However, Garcia hit back hours later, claiming that his report had been misrepresented by the FIFA Ethics committee chief. Meanwhile, Football Association chairman Greg Dyke branded the findings as a "joke".
Eckert told BBC Sport: "I'm surprised, not shocked. I'm a long time in the job here. I don't think anything surprises me.
"Usually you would first speak to each other internally if you don't like something," Eckert added regarding Garcia. "I have been trying to contact him."
Dyke has pushed for all 42 pages of the report from Garcia to be released to the public.
Simon Sinclair
