Can anyone really overthrow the barmy Swiss pensioner?
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Fifa presidential challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam feels development in football has come to a virtual standstill under Sepp Blatter.
The 61-year-old Qatari, once Blatter’s most loyal supporter, will run against the long-time Fifa president in the election on June 1st this year.
Bin Hammam, who will meet the Football Association next month as part of his campaign, has vowed to bring more transparency to Fifa, open voting for World Cup bidding, and to limit the presidency to eight years.
The Asian confederation chairman, who has also promised to protect Britain’s privileged position on the world governing body, feels it is time for 75-year-old Blatter to step down after 13 years as president.
He said: “I was a supporter of Blatter and I have never regretted anything about that – he has contributed a lot for the development of the game.
“But he has been there a long time in that position. There must be the question: Mr President – when is it enough?
“I will limit myself to a maximum of eight years. If I am elected I will bring the proposal back so that the president of FIFA remains only for eight years.” (Sky Sports)
I would imagine that the biggest obstacle to Mohamed Bin Hammam’s election hopes is his insistence that he will throw the doors open and make FIFA a more transparent place and whilst we the onlookers would love such an act to occur, those ensconced in the regime are not likely to be quite so keen. Therefore it would take something of a miracle for anyone but Sepp Blatter to win the presidential race.
The expression “Turkey’s voting for Christmas” has never been quite so relevant.