Blatter pledges more FIFA transparency

World football chief Sepp Blatter has pledged to create a a more open and transparent FIFA if he wins a fourth term as head of football's world governing body.

Blatter's policies were heavily scrutinised after the surprise vote to hand Qatar the 2022 World Cup, with lack of transparency being the chief gripe of detractors.

The Swiss's bid is being challenged by Mohamad bin Hammam, the president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) who has pledged to expand FIFA's decision-making process and introduce a "more fair distribution of revenue and increased transparency".

In a letter on insideworldfootball, Blatter conceded Friday that better communication with the outside world is essential and says it will form a cornerstone of his final term in charge.

"The results of communicative ineptitude can be devastating for all those in an organisation who are decent and hard working," he said.

"It is always a few who destroy lives and the image and reputation of many."

FIFA's reputation suffered a blow in the lead-up to the vote which saw Russia and Qatar win the right to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively when Executive Committee members Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti were suspended after they were caught telling undercover reporters their votes could be traded for cash to build facilities in their home countries.

FIFA has been frequently attacked for being oblivious to criticism, especially over the way its finances are distributed.

But Blatter says he is willing to address this by publishing FIFA's annual figures in even more detail.

"If we at FIFA have failed to explain our work sufficiently well over a period of time, then that is a reality I am willing to accept and will actively seek to remedy," said Blatter, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committeee (IOC).

"I am proud to state that it was under my leadership as FIFA President that we started to publish our figures for the world to see in 2003 for the first time - and have adhered to that policy ever since, and in ever more detail."

"But that is not enough."

"Which is why, also under my tenure, I proposed to publish FIFA's Annual Activity Report which adds even more detail to the Financial Report, and covers all areas of our corporate affairs, FIFA's corporate social responsibility programmes and the innumerable projects we conduct, administer or have launched around the world."