Bin Hammam to clarify position on FIFA bid
Reuters - Monday 14 March 2011, 06:59
SINGAPORE - Asian Football Confederation
(AFC) chief Mohamed Bin Hammam will on Friday "clarify his
position" regarding the FIFA presidential elections to end weeks
of mounting speculation he will stand against Sepp Blatter.
The 61-year-old Qatari will finally address the issue at the
AFC's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at the end of the week, the
AFC said on Monday.
Bin Hammam has dropped several hints over the past three
months that he might challenge Swiss incumbent Blatter for football's top job at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on May 31 and
June 1.
The deadline for declaring an intention to run is March 31.
Last week Bin Hammam, who was sworn in unopposed for a third
and final term as the head of Asian football in January, said he
was happy with the support from five of FIFA's six
confederations but was unsure about European support.
"I am happy with most confederations, but I don't know about
Europe and how they will deal with my candidacy," he said in on
his Twitter account.
"Europe is the core of football. I would like now to make a
real assessment in Europe. "
Blatter, 75, currently has no competition as he seeks a
fourth term as the head of world football.
The pair endure a frosty relationship, having once being
considered strong allies, with Bin Hammam being critical of
Blatter's management in recent months.