There is unlikely to be an investigation into the referee Phil Dowd's performance at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but Wigan Athletic's owner, Dave Whelan, has joined the club's manager, Paul Jewell, in being the subject of an FA disciplinary inquiry into comments they made after the 2-1 defeat by Arsenal.

Dowd has been appointed for next Tuesday's Championship game between Preston and Norwich City, suggesting he will not be much damaged by the fallout. But Whelan, for amplifying Jewell's tirade, is expected to have his knuckles rapped by the Premier League if not the Football Association, which is expected to focus more on Jewell's outburst.

Whelan could be charged with making improper comments and according to the FA could be fined in the same way as managers and players. Both men appeared to question Dowd's impartiality and integrity - Soho Square's criteria for charges - when they implied he was biased against Wigan. Premiership executives are said to be irritated by Whelan's call for an investigation into Dowd's handling of this and other games involving Wigan.

Referees' performances are analysed by the referees' manager, Keith Hackett, whose willingness to drop officials for major errors was demonstrated by Uriah Rennie's demotion from the Premiership for his performance in Newcastle United's 2-2 draw with West Ham in January. With West Ham leading 2-0, James Milner's goal, which started Newcastle's comeback, was allowed to stand even though Scott Parker was clearly offside and interfering with play.

If Dowd was thought to have blundered badly with Sunday's key decisions - a Wigan penalty claim he refused and an Arsenal goal that might have been ruled out for offside had a linesman intervened - then he stood to be demoted. But neither incident is being regarded as clear-cut, and claims that Dowd swore at Wigan players are being seen merely as banter.

Wigan's defender Matt Jackson last night said it was time referees were held accountable for their mistakes.

"I have a good relationship with them (referees) and I like the banter that goes on on the pitch," Jackson said. "But then you just want some sort of comeback because if a manager vents his frustration, he ends up in front of the FA.

"As for the referee, he goes home having possibly made a poor decision, and that's it."

Meanwhile, the Football Association feel continued "serious" British government support would give added weight to any potential bid for the 2018 World Cup.

The treasury have compiled an extensive feasibility study into staging the tournament in 11 years' time.

There is still some way to go before any official decision will be taken by FIFA as to which continent will host the 2018 competition, probably not until 2009 at the earliest.

But Europe looks to be in pole position, with South Africa and South America the venues for the next two.

Were the world's governing body to award the showpiece event to Europe in 2018, one of the FA's first steps in considering whether or not to bid would be to seek Government support.

Clearly with that already in place, it would be a substantial boost to the chances of England being the preferred destination.

"Government support and public backing are among the most important aspects of any World Cup bid and today's feasibility study is a very welcome initiative," said a FA spokesman.

"If FIFA does decide to award the 2018 World Cup to Europe, seeking Government support would be one of the first steps the FA would take in assessing a possible bid.

"The fact that a feasibility study has already been undertaken, and with such positive conclusions, is a very strong indicator of how seriously the Government are taking a potential World Cup in England and would certainly be a major factor in our decision making."

There is, though, no guarantee the tournament would indeed return to Europe in 2018.

"The rotation system only goes until 2014. The rotation was a political decision to ensure the World Cup went to Africa, otherwise Africa would never have it," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter, speaking at the end of 2005.

Other countries who have expressed an interest in making a bid in 2018 include Australia, the USA, Mexico as well as Holland and Belgium, who successfully co-hosted the 2000 European Championships.