FIFA president Sepp Blatter today rounded on his critics and insisted he had nothing to hide from the investigation into the world governing body's finances.
It was confirmed today that Britain's David Will is to head a six-man audit committee to look at FIFA's books and investigate the collapse of former marketing partners ISL. They are to report back by April 30th.
However, Blatter said the committee would not have the scope to inquire into allegations that his supporters paid cash for votes in his 1998 election, nor would look into financial matters "at a presidential level".
The FIFA president is still in confrontation with a majority of the ruling body, the executive committee, who this morning refused to rubber-stamp the finance committee's ratification of accounts.
In the face of such opposition, Blatter said 54 national associations had asked for an extraordinary congress to be held to discuss financial matters - in effect a veiled threat that if needed he will call on the 204 national associations to shore up his position of power before the next presidential election on May 29th.
Regarding allegations of corruption involving his supporters, Blatter told a news conference in Zurich: "Allegations have been made in 1998 which have been the subject of inquiries and in court, and these have been settled and I am not going to give a platform to those who doubt the correctness of my election in 1998.
"If somebody has to make remarks or disapprove of the president it is the Congress and not the audit committee.
"I convinced them this morning that this is the fact, I have nothing to hide. There were some specific questions this morning and they were specifically, openly answered.
"We have nothing to hide. We work with such a transparency in FIFA."
PA