PRESSURE grew yesterday for a fully independent figure from outside Europe to be appointed as the head of the new Fifa reform task force.

The man viewed as the favourite to be appointed, Swiss businessman Domenico Scala, ruled himself out of the job yesterday.

It is understood it comes after Uefa president Michel Platini and the Asian Football Confederation pushed for a figurehead who is completely independent of Fifa. There is also a feeling that the chairman should come from outside Europe.

Fifa sponsors Visa and Coca-Cola have also both called for a wholly independent process to look at how the world governing body can bring in changes.

Scala is seen as being too close to Fifa as he is already deeply involved with the world governing body, as independent chairman of the audit and compliance committee.

He has also developed a number of the reform proposals that were put to Fifa’s executive committee last week.