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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to investigate claims of corruption made by the BBC’s Panorama programme against Fifa vice-president Issa Hayatou.

Hayatou, who is also an IOC member, was accused by Panorama of receiving a bribe worth £10,000 in 1995 from the now-defunct marketing company ISL.

The IOC said in a statement: "The IOC has taken note of the allegations made by BBC Panorama and will ask the programme makers to pass on any evidence they may have to the appropriate authorities.

"The IOC has a zero tolerance against corruption and will refer the matter to the IOC ethics commission."

Hayatou has denied Panorama’s claims and threatened to sue.

He insists the money the programme alleged was a bribe was in fact paid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as part of a sponsorship deal with ISL.

"This money was not for me – it was for the 40th anniversary of CAF," said the Cameroonian, who also heads CAF.

"At that time, ISL was the sponsor of CAF and they give the money to CAF and not to me, and the executive committee of CAF accepted it and approved it.

"I have got an appointment with my lawyers. I will talk to them and I will take it from there."

In a later statement, CAF supported Hayatou, saying: "The context within which this information was broadcast does not reflect the truth of what happened."

The statement added that the money was a donation from ISL and that CAF's executive committee "were aware of the said donation and gave their approval".

But the BBC is standing by the claims, pointing out that Hayatou was given several chances to put across his version of events.

"Mr Hayatou now seems to be saying that there is an innocent explanation for the payment from ISL," the BBC said in a statement.

"However, when Panorama wrote to him repeatedly and approached him in person offering him an opportunity to put his side of the story, he offered no explanation."

The revelations came only days before Fifa delegates decide who will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals.

But Hayatou has vowed that the claims made by the BBC will not sway his decision on who should host the 2018 tournament.

The England bid team has criticised the BBC for showing the programme so close to Thursday’s (December 2) vote.

However, Hayatou said: "There is a big difference between Panorama and my relationship with the England bid. There is no confusion in my mind."

Meanwhile, Fifa has also dismissed the Panorama allegations, saying the investigation had simply covered old ground.

A statement read: "The matters concerning the case 'ISL/ISMM' which are referred to date back many years ago and were investigated by the relevant authorities in Switzerland.

"In its verdict of June 26, 2008, the Criminal Court of Zug had not convicted any Fifa officials.

"It is therefore important to stress again the fact that no Fifa officials were accused of any criminal offence in these proceedings.

"Furthermore, it is important to recall that the decision was made on matters which took place prior to the year 2000 and there has been no court conviction against Fifa. The investigation and the case are definitely closed."