Bin Hammam: Blatter’s time is up
Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam believes Sepp Blatter has been at Fifa too long and needs to be replaced as president.
The 74-year-old Blatter – who joined Fifa in 1975 as technical director, became secretary general in 1981 and president in 1998 – is up for re-election for a fourth four-year term in June.
But Bin Hammam thinks the length of his tenure has contributed to the perception that the organisation is corrupt.
"Everybody is going to accuse us todaypeople because maybe people see Mr Blatter has stayed a long time in Fifa," Bin Hammam told the Associated Press.
"Thirty-five years in one organisation is quite a long time. No matter how clean you are, honest or how correct you are, still people will attack you. You are going to be defenceless. That is why I believe change is the best thing for the organisation."
Although Bin Hammam has admitted that he wants to replace Blatter one day, he declined to say whether he would challenge the Swiss this year. "I did not make up my mind yet," Bin Hammam said. "I would rather wait and see."
But Bin Hammam is hoping that someone will run against Blatter. "I'm actually seeking to see competition within Fifa for the post,” he added.
“I would prefer to see two candidates proposing themselves, or maybe more than two proposing themselves to the congress of Fifa. Competition is good for the organisation, whether president or any other posts. Competition is the best way to make the organisation vibrant and alive."
The 74-year-old Blatter – who joined Fifa in 1975 as technical director, became secretary general in 1981 and president in 1998 – is up for re-election for a fourth four-year term in June.
But Bin Hammam thinks the length of his tenure has contributed to the perception that the organisation is corrupt.
"Everybody is going to accuse us todaypeople because maybe people see Mr Blatter has stayed a long time in Fifa," Bin Hammam told the Associated Press.
"Thirty-five years in one organisation is quite a long time. No matter how clean you are, honest or how correct you are, still people will attack you. You are going to be defenceless. That is why I believe change is the best thing for the organisation."
Although Bin Hammam has admitted that he wants to replace Blatter one day, he declined to say whether he would challenge the Swiss this year. "I did not make up my mind yet," Bin Hammam said. "I would rather wait and see."
But Bin Hammam is hoping that someone will run against Blatter. "I'm actually seeking to see competition within Fifa for the post,” he added.
“I would prefer to see two candidates proposing themselves, or maybe more than two proposing themselves to the congress of Fifa. Competition is good for the organisation, whether president or any other posts. Competition is the best way to make the organisation vibrant and alive."