Blatter forced to find new ideas

Many of the ideas now being floated by FIFA President Sepp Blatter may “not have seen the light of day” if he wasn't fighting to win re-election, according to rival candidate Mohammed Bin Hammam on Monday. Bin Hammam, the Asian Football Confederation president, is the only candidate facing Blatter in the presidential election on June 1. On his blog Monday, the 61-year-old Qatari welcomed Blatter's ideas to reform the organization he has run since 1998 as long overdue. Titled “Time For a Fresh Approach” the blog posting echoed many of the themes Bin Hammam has pushed since announcing his candidacy last March, including the need for new leadership and increased transparency within FIFA. “To ensure we are not left behind by an ever-changing world, we have to be sure to think at least one step ahead. In recent times, that has not been the case at FIFA,” Bin Hammam wrote. “But now, at last, Mr. Blatter is coming out with fresh suggestions about how to run the game's governing body that might not have seen the light of day had there not been a challenge to his leadership.” But Bin Hammam suggested many of Blatter's ideas contradicted his earlier positions and only were introduced after he realized he would have to win re-election. He said Blatter once said FIFA budgets were fixed but now was offering to provide additional assistance for development. “It seems my challenge has made Mr. Blatter reassess his view of football's future,” Bin Hammam said. “Competition is healthy and it is vital to the continual development and progress of the sport that we all hold so close to our hearts.” Blatter's campaign is based on ensuring stability, tackling corruption and spreading $1 billion among FIFA members for development projects over the next four years. The 75-year-old Swiss, who has led football's world governing body since 1998, seeks a four-year term that he says will be his last. Bin Hammam has pledged wider distribution of World Cup profits, which helped create FIFA's $1.28 billion reserve fund. He said he would double annual grants, giving all 208 members a basic $500,000, and would double maximum payments toward Goal program projects to $1 million. He also promised to share FIFA's power and jobs with its six confederations by offering 17 extra seats on the executive body and creating legal and development teams at continental headquarters. Bin Hammam, who played a key role in his country winning the rights to the 2022 World Cup, also promised to create a transparency panel to help restore public faith in FIFA.