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Russia's 2018 World Cup bid has hit back over claims it offered incentives to the suspended Fifa executive Amos Adamu in an attempt to secure his vote.

The allegations arose from the Sunday Times's investigation into alleged vote-buying, which led to Adamu's suspension by Fifa on October 20.

According to the newspaper, Adamu told an undercover reporter during the sting operation that the Russians had offered him "co-operation" with building facilities and training players in Nigeria in exchange for his vote.

However, the head of the Russian bid Alexei Sorokin attacked the claims and suggested that the paper had deliberately targeted Russia in an attempt to damage England's main rival in the bidding process.

Sorokin confirmed that Adamu had visited Moscow in August, but insisted the visit was conducted "in conformity with Fifa rules", and had not involved the offer of any voting incentives.

"Mr Adamu was indeed visiting Russia in August," Sorokin said. "During his stay in Moscow, he was introduced to the key elements of Russia's bid through a series of presentations and venue tours. However, we would like to categorically state that never was he approached with any offers of assistance in pitch construction or players' training or any other partnership. We consider statements by Mr Adamu as speculation and unfounded."

Sorokin added that "all bidders are likely to have made proposals to the various stakeholders" as part of their legacy planning, but that such proposals – including "friendly matches, coaching academies, referees courses and infrastructural support" – did not imply any attempt to buy support.

Sorokin's suggestion that the claims were part of an English media attempt to undermine a rival bid – questioning whether the Sunday Times was taking a "complete, impartial and balanced approach" – echoed comments made by Sepp Blatter last week.

The Fifa president told a press conference: "One can ask whether it is appropriate for newspapers to set traps for people. Why would an English newspaper do that? We talk about fair play in sport – that must apply to the media too."

The Sunday Times, though, stood by its approach, pointing out it was acting in response to "specific allegations" by Adamu, who "did not discuss receiving specific offers of 'co-operation' from other bidding nations".

Last week, the England bid team made a formal complaint to Fifa after Sorokin was quoted as saying London had a high crime rate and a youth alcohol problem. Sorokin later claimed his had been misinterpreted, with England withdrawing its complaint following an apology from Russia's sports minister.

Fifa confirmed on Friday (October 29) that the final vote would go ahead on December 2 as planned, despite the ongoing inquiry by its ethics committee into the original allegations of vote-trading against Adamu and Reynald Temarii, and claims against four other officials. The committee is due to report on November 17.