Sepp Blatter was re-elected unopposed for a fourth term as FIFA president on Wednesday,shrugging off the scandals that have hit world soccer's governing body to secure another four years in charge. Blatter,the 75-year-old Swiss who has run FIFA since 1998,was voted in by an overwhelming majority,winning 186 votes of the 203 cast,and immediately pushed through changes intended the make the choice of World Cup hosts more democratic and beef up the fight against corruption. Blatter,himself cleared on Sunday after allegations that 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 then 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 clear 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 all 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 U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,88,and former Dutch international player Johan Cruyff named as two possible advisors.
