(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-19 11:04

BERNE, Switzerland - FIFA's newly-formed ethics committee should have a "pivotal function" in overseeing the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup, world soccer's governing body said on Tuesday.

Committee chairman Sebastian Coe has been asked to define the "relevant principles" involved in the drawing up of the World Cup bidding rules, FIFA said in a statement released on its website (www.fifa.org).

Coe, who is also the chairman of London's 2012 Olympic Games organising committee, said in October that he wanted the ethics committee to have a role in overseeing the bidding process.

Competition to stage the 2018 World Cup is expected to be especially intense following FIFA's October 29 decision to end its policy of rotating the tournament through its continental federations.

Ten countries including England, the United States, Russia and a combined bid from Belgium and Holland have already expressed interest in staging the event.

The ethics committee was set up in 2006 but has faced criticism over its apparent inaction and the secrecy of its meetings.

On Tuesday, it said it had made a decision over accusations of irregularity in the selection of Kenyan referees -- but said the verdict would not be announced yet.