Blatter has stolen my ideas claims Bin Hammam

By Andrew Warhsaw

April 25 – Mohamed Bin Hammam, the challenger to Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, has criticised Blatter’s election manifesto as the battle for the biggest job in world sport intensifies.

In his first public response, Bin Hammam, head of the Asian Football Confederation, says Blatter’s offer of more money to member federations is a deliberate attempt to cling on to power on June 1 rather than a genuine effort to make progress.

When Bin Hammam launched his campaign a few weeks ago, he promised to double contributions to FIFA nations.

Blatter then trumped the Qatari by pledging to hand out $1 billion in “development” funds.

But in the latest blog on his website, bin Hammam says that is just a ploy.

“Mr. Blatter’s manifesto directly contradicts comments made after I launched my own bid for the FIFA Presidency,” writes Bin Hammam.

“Where he once claimed FIFA’s budgets were already set, he is now promising additional funding for member associations should he retain his position.”

Bin Hammam wants to create a new 41-member FIFA Board in order to boost global representation at the heart of the organisation’s power base.

“New ideas are the lifeblood of any organisation, they are what allow any administrative body to grow and progress, to build and prepare for the future,” he writes.

“To ensure we are not left behind by an ever-changing world, we have to be sure to think at least one step ahead.”

He says Blatter’s respective ideas are the result of only one factor – his own challenge for the Presidency.

“It seems my challenge has made Mr. Blatter reassess his view of football’s future,” Bin Hammam writes.

“Now, at last, Mr. Blatter is coming out with fresh suggestions about how to run the game’s governing body that might not have seen the light of day had there not been a challenge to his leadership.

“Competition is a way to improve the productivity of a person and my challenge to his position has encouraged him to think more and more about the years ahead than might have otherwise been the case.

“He has been motivated to come forward with some new proposals and he now knows he cannot take his position for granted; throughout the rest of the campaign, we can be sure that both candidates will present fresh suggestions as a result of their engagement with member nations along the campaign trail.”

Bin Hammam’s campaign trail takes him to London this week for a meeting with English FA chairman David Bernstein.

“I am confident in my ability to lead FIFA and I know that I have the experience to deliver everything that is contained within my manifesto and play the leading role in developing football in the future,” he writes.

“I firmly believe, too, that my vision for the future of FIFA is the one that can bring the most benefits to the member associations and all other stakeholders and, by virtue of that, improve the game and its governance as a whole.

“Change is essential; a fresh approach is required for the future. And at least now the much-needed debate has begun.”

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