Bin Hammam calls for competition for FIFA President

Mohamed_Bin_Hammam_sat_next_to_Sepp_Blatter

By Andrew Warshaw

March 5 – Mohamed Bin Hammam (pictured right), President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has again hinted he may challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA Presidency, claiming there should be competition for the biggest job in the sport.

Speaking on his Twitter and Facebook account, bin Hammam said: “Competition is the best way to make the organisation vibrant and alive.

“Competition is good for the organisation, whether President or any other posts.”

The deadline to announce any challenge to Blatter is April 1.

Although Bin Hammam has consistently refused to confirm he will stand, he has made it clear he believes the time has come for a change.

Bin-Hammam recently said Blatter, in charge since 1998, had spent too long at FIFA.

Relationships between have been frosty ever since Blatter reportedly backed Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in his ultimately failed attempt at unseating bin Hammam at the AFC Congress in 2009.

Two months ago, when questioned by reporters about the top job, Bin Hammam said: “A change is a demand for an improvement really.

“I cannot be 100 per cent frank with you, but I think FIFA needs lot of improvement.

“I think there is a scope of work I can do, there is something I can present and do for international football.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734851772labto1734851772ofdlr1734851772owedi1734851772sni@w1734851772ahsra1734851772w.wer1734851772dna1734851772

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January 2011: Blatter must be challenged to keep FIFA “vibrant and alive” warns Bin Hammam