AFC chief Hammam to challenge Blatter for FIFA presidency
March 18th, 2011 - 6:28 pm ICT by ANILondon, Mar 18(ANI): Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed Bin Hammam has confirmed that he will challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency.
Hammam has spent the past two months weighing up possible support among the 208 national associations who make up FIFA as he bids to end Blatter’s 13-year reign.
“Today, after careful study, consultation and consideration, armed with my love and passion for football and believing that football is about fair competition, I have decided to contest the upcoming FIFA Presidency election, scheduled on June 1, 2011,” the Independent quoted Hammam, as saying.
“I am glad to say that the AFC Executive Committee encouraged me and supported me in my candidacy and I am inviting the member associations, football communities and media to be part of my humble endeavour to make the change that is necessary and needed in FIFA,” he added.
The 61-year-old also proposed to form a FIFA Board in place of the existing FIFA Executive Committee and increase the number of seats for all the confederations.
“I propose UEFA gets four more seats, CAF four more seats, Asia four more seats, CONCACAF three more seats, CONMEBOL one more seat and OFC one more seat,” the AFC chief said.
“A new executive committee will be coming, 40 members plus the president is 41 and it will avoid as much as possible for the privilege of the casting vote going to the president. I will rename the Executive Committee the FIFA Board and will transfer all the duties and the responsibilities of the Executive Committee as it is today to the FIFA Board,” he added.
Other proposals put forward, providing he is elected, include establishing a transparency committee and doubling the financial assistance given to each member association.
The vote for the presidency takes place at the FIFA Congress, which will be held in Zurich on May 31 and June 1.
Hammam already enjoys an elevated status within FIFA, having served as a member of its 24-man executive committee for the past 15 years.
He was also influential in bringing the 2022 World Cup to his native Qatar. (ANI)
- AFC president rubbishes bribery charges, to appear before FIFA (Lead) - May 26, 2011
- Bin Hammam asks FIA Code and Ethics committee to investigate Blatter - May 27, 2011
- Whistleblower Blazer quits - Oct 07, 2011
- FIFA likely to give go-ahead to proposed goal-line technology - Feb 18, 2011
- Bin Hammam drags FIFA president Blatter to ethics committee (Lead) - May 27, 2011
- Vowing to clear name, Bin Hammam withdraws from FIFA presidential race - May 29, 2011
- AFC chief Hammam may challenge Blatter for FIFA presidency - Mar 11, 2011
- Dominica's football chief to appeal against FIFA ban - Nov 21, 2011
- Zhang Jilong is interim AFC chief after bin Hammam's suspension - May 30, 2011
- I have an even chance to unseat Blatter, says AFC president - Apr 14, 2011
- Sleeping giant India is slowly waking up: Blatter - Mar 09, 2012
- Hammam turns to Arbitration Court after FIFA rejects appeal - Sep 16, 2011
- AFC president Hammam faces charges of bribery in FIFA - May 25, 2011
- FIFA ex-vice president to reveal graft within world body - Oct 18, 2011
- Blatter facing challenge from Qatari rival to hold onto his position as FIFA chief - Jan 06, 2011
Tags: afc, asian football confederation, candidacy, careful study, casting vote, fifa congress, fifa executive committee, fifa presidency, financial assistance, hammam, humble endeavour, member association, member associations, national associations, new executive committee, president mohamed, privilege, proposals, transparency, zurich