Bin Hammam wants to limit term of FIFA President

By Andrew Warshaw

January 30 – Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed Bin Hammam has given yet another strong hint that he may try to unseat Sepp Blatter (pictured) as head of FIFA.

The relationship between the pair has become increasingly fraught and Bin Hammam has until April 1 to declare whether he will challenge Blatter at the FIFA election exactly two months later.

Football’s world governing body endured a torrid 2010 that saw two Executive Committee members suspended and four other officials sanctioned over the infamous World Cup cash-for-votes scandal.

The decision to give Qatar the 2022 World Cup also drew fierce criticism.

At a news conference on the final day of the Asian Cup in Doha, bin Hammam said a total overhaul of FIFA was required and “a lot of changes” needed.

“People today, maybe I’m wrong in my approach, are complaining a lot about how FIFA does its business,” he said.

Blatter is seeking an unprecedented fourth term in office at the age of 74 whereas bin Hammam is 62.

Bin Hammam believes four terms is too many.

He himself stands down as AFC President in 2015 after eight years in charge.

“Limiting the mandate for the [FIFA] President will allow new people to come into power without hesitation and new people means new ideas, new thoughts and pushing the organisation ahead,” he said.

“I’m afraid… our main aim is how to protect myself sitting in the seat and not how we do for the future,” Bin Hammam answered when asked what were the dangers of having a President sat in a role for too long.

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