England's Football Association (FA) has cleared Arsenal of breaching the rules governing the ownership of clubs after a television report linking  the London club with Belgian side Beveren.

Arsenal denied wrongdoing after being accused earlier this month of making secret payments to Beveren.

BBC's Newsnight programme reported that a police probe in Belgium had concluded that the Premier League club, losing Champions League finalists this year, had paid Beveren £1 million.

The North London club, in a statement to Newsnight, confirmed a technical relationship with Beveren since 2001 but denied controlling the club.

Today, the FA said it had been asked by world governing body Fifa to investigate the programme's claims.

"We can confirm that we have not identified any evidence to suggest that Arsenal have breached any rules of the FA or the FA Premier League (FAPL) in relation to their dealings with Beveren and specifically any breaches of the FA and FAPL rules concerning dual interests or associations between clubs," the FA said in a statement.