Coe the man to clean up football

Lord Coe has been given the job of cleaning up the image of world football when, in a shock move, governing body FIFA unveiled the former athlete as the head of its new ethics commission.

The double Olympic champion, now chairman of London's organising committee for the 2012 Olympics, will chair FIFA's new independent watchdog whose job it will be to combat matchfixing, corruption and financial mismanagement in the worldwide game.

It mirrors a similar organisation in the Olympic movement which monitors the behaviour of the International Olympic Committee.

The announcement came as a surprise since the 50-year-old is very busy in his role at London 2012 and has also been rumoured to be the top candidate to take over as chairman of UK Athletics.

Coe, a long-term Chelsea fan, said: "I am delighted to have been selected to perform this important role.

"Inspiring young people into sport is a personal passion of mine. To do this, we must protect and promote the ethics and morals of sport for future generations.

"My role as chairman of London 2012, as IAAF Council member, as a member of the UK Athletics Council and as chair of FIFA's ethics committee, will involve me in this area at the very highest level of sport."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter welcomed the appointment, saying: "We have found an outstanding personality in the world of sport, a great personality in the Olympic movement. Sebastian Coe will be the chairman of this committee.

"It is perhaps a surprise but it has been very well received."