Scandal-plagued FIFA responded to criticism of its new reforms task force by saying an “independent person from outside of the game” should head the group.

FIFA’s statement came after Domenico Scala, the Swiss businessman who was approached to chair the task force, said he would not take up the role unless independence was guaranteed.

Scala will be pleased however to see that the task force is being placed under the control of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee, which he heads, effectively giving him an oversight position on the reforms.

The move will placate Scala, who had already been working on reform plans for FIFA before.

The new body, to be made up of ten members chosen by FIFA’s six continental confederations, was announced on Monday with the governing body saying the chair would be “neutral”.

Campaign groups and sponsors such as Coca Cola, had called for the reform process to be carried out by an entirely independent commission and slammed the creation of the task force as another fudge.

FIFA said the heads of the confederations met with Sepp Blatter in St Petersburg at the weekend to discuss the task force.

“It was decided that the Task Force Reforms should be chaired by an independent person from outside of the world of football.

“The work of the task force will be overseen by the independent bodies of FIFA,” the statement said.