3 Jan 2011

Anti-corruption unit mooted for FIFA

12:35 pm on 3 January 2011

The head of FIFA says he wants to set up a working group to investigate accusations of corruption.

President Sepp Blatter told a Swiss newspaper that the committee will strengthen FIFA's credibility and increase transparency in the game.

Last November, FIFA's ethics commission suspended two members of the executive committee over acccusations of bribery throughout the bidding process and voting for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Blatter said: "This committee will strengthen our credibility and give us a new image in terms of transparency.

"I will take care of it personally, to ensure there is no corruption at FIFA."

Blatter told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper the committee would consist of seven to nine members "not only from sport but from politics, finance, business and culture".

He confirmed he would not sit on the committee himself as he wanted to guarantee its independence.

The BBC reports the move to set up an anti-corruption unit will raise questions about the future of FIFA's ethics committee, which investigated claims of corruption last year.

Following the investigation, executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii were suspended over accusations they offered to sell their votes during bidding for the World Cup, something they vehemently denied.

They both subsequently missed December's ballot in which Russia was chosen to host the 2018 tournament and Qatar the 2022 event, following a secret vote by the remaining 22 committee members.