SOCCER: FIFA PRESIDENT Sepp Blatter may have been tempting fate when he baptised his new anti-corruption watchdog the Solutions Committee because there is a considerable risk it will fail to live up to its name.

The creation of the less-than-imaginatively named committee was one of three measures announced by Blatter following his re-election on Wednesday but none offered much hope of real change in soccer’s beleaguered world governing body.

Blatter’s fourth and final mandate could also see the 75-year-old face internal divisions as he battles to push reform through a federation where many members still believe nothing needs fixing. He will also have to deal with the powerful, wealthy European clubs who are becoming agitated at Fifa’s perceived heavy-handedness.

Blatter, re-elected unopposed after his opponent Mohamed Bin Hammam withdrew from the race amid cash-for-votes allegations, likes to see Fifa as a force for good which uses the sport to promote social and education programmes across the world.

But instead of being lauded for its social conscience, Blatter had to listen to a stinging reproach from the president of his own country who urged Fifa to “take seriously the many criticisms voiced about corruption and a lack of transparency. It is of the utmost importance because your organisation should be an example not only to young people but to the world,” Micheline Calmy-Rey said in her address to the opening of the Fifa Congress. “Let not money spoil your ideals.”

Blatter, himself cleared on Sunday after allegations he had behaved unethically in the presidential race, appeared stung into action by that as he pushed through three measures immediately after his re-election.

The first was to change the way World Cup hosts are chosen, increasing the electoral college from the 24-man executive committee to the 208-member Congress, reversing a change made in the mid-1970s. However, with the 2022 World Cup hosts already decided, this change will not have any effect for at least seven to eight years while the executive committee still has a role in drawing up a short-list of suitable candidates.

Blatter went on to announce changes to the ethics committee, separating the investigation process from the final decision-making, and the creation of the Solutions Committee as a general watchdog. Neither of these moves are likely to placate the many observers who believe an external investigation into Fifa’s affairs is needed.

International corruption watchdog Transparency International, saying Fifa’s ethics committee was “shrouded in secrecy”, had suggested more far-reaching measures. It proposed rules on how to deal with allegations of corruption, the appointment of an ombudsman, a review of the existing code of ethics, compliance clauses for contracts and a review of the process by which television rights and sponsorship contracts are awarded. Blatter’s only concession was that outsiders may be brought in “if necessary”, with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, 88, and former Dutch player Johan Cruyff named as two possible advisers.

Blatter’s claims Fifa were unified looked questionable after 17 associations voted in favour of postponing Wednesday’s election and a further 17 abstained. But a bigger threat comes from the powerful European clubs, led by former West Germany forward Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who want a bigger slice of the World Cup cake and fewer internationals fixtures.

“The recent happenings have once more proven Fifa needs a change in its whole structure,” said Rummenigge, chairman of the European Club Assocation. “I request Fifa to immediately introduce democratic and transparent structures and procedures. European clubs will no longer accept they do not participate in the decision-making when it comes to club-related matters. We will . . . take appropriate measures, if there is no improvement.”

Blatter, who showed no inclination to support his long-time allies Qatari Bin Hammam and Trinidadian Jack Warner when they were suspended by the ethics committee on Sunday, may have to break more alliances if he wants to carry through his reforms.

Despite the damaging revelations, some of them from Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer, there are a large number of Fifa members who see the allegations as a figment of the media’s imagination. Fifa vice-president Julio Grondona told the media to “stop bothering us” and accused the press of peddling lies. He was backed by executive committee member Angel Maria Villar Llona of Spain and several other delegates.

Recently, Blatter has tried to distance himself from the executive committee, pointing out they are elected by their respective federations.

He said one of his first jobs for the Solutions Committee would be to look at changing the way in which executive committee members are chosen, a suggestion that seems certain to cause rumblings of discontent. Blatter said: “I do not expect any more battles, now we are going into a new period of Fifa transparency. I think the message was clear for all the associations.”

That may be wishful thinking.

THE JAMAICA Football Federation (JFF) has denied allegations it accepted a bribe during a meeting with suspended Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam.

In a statement yesterday, JFF president Horace Burrell said no money was offered to Jamaica to vote for Bin Hammam during last month’s meetings of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) in Trinidad amp; Tobago. “Let me state categorically the JFF was not offered, neither received any funds prior to, during or after the CFU meetings held on May 10-11 in Trinidad,” said Burrell who is acting as CFU president in the absence of the suspended Jack Warner.

Qatari Bin Hammam, who was due to stand against Sepp Blatter before he withdrew his candidacy last Sunday and was subsequently banned by world soccer’s ruling body, has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

On Sunday Fifa’s ethics committee was given a report, compiled on behalf of CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer, containing details of the CFU meetings and statements that cash payments were made.

The Puerto Rico Football Federation confirmed to Fifa it did receive the money and has offered to pay it back while the Bahamas federation says it was offered but did not accept the cash.

Burrell’s statement followed calls by former Jamaica prime minister and now head of the Jamaica Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) Edward Seaga for regional federations to declare whether they had been offered money at the meetings.