Bin Hammam To Run Against Blatter
Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam has announced he will stand against current FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the presidential election in June.
Blatter is seeking re-election for a fourth term, after yesterday announcing that he ‘still had work to do’ in the job, after twelve years in the role.
Bin Hammam has worked alongside Blatter at FIFA since 1996, but announced his candidacy on Friday with a 17-minute speech, vowing to increase the world governing body’s decision-making power and spread its wealth.
Bin Hammam stated: ‘Change is necessary and needed’.
‘After careful study, consultation and consideration, armed with my love and passion for football, believing that our game is about fair competition, I have decided to stand in the FIFA presidential elections on 1 June at the FIFA congress’.
The Asian football chief reportedly said that he rated his chances of becoming the ninth president of FIFA and the first from Asia as ’50-50′.
There was also promises to decentralise the FIFA administration if elected in, after the Qatari felt it was too bureaucratic, adding that he would also like to expand the executive committee to give more people a say in decision making.
Bin Hammam, who played a central role in securing the 2022 World Cup for Qatar, said the current FIFA board of 24 should be increased to 41 – a plan that would dilute the power of Europe and South America – while boosting the representation from the rest of the world.
The 61 year-old also made it clear that he would support the introduction of goal line technology, and of the extra two officials behind the goals.
Blatter, 75, has been in charge since 1998, and remained unchallenged since 2002.
Bin Hammam added: ‘Blatter is an experienced person, he has made significant contribution to football worldwide but I believe there is a time limit for everything’.
The deadline for declaring candidacy to run is 31st March, with the elections taking place at the two-day FIFA Congress in Zurich from 31st May.
