Blatter receives challenge as Fifa head
The head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Mohamed Bin Hammam, says he will stand against Sepp Blatter for president of football’s world governing body.
The 61-year-old from Qatar announced his decision on Friday at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, ending weeks of speculation that he would challenge the Swiss incumbent.
"Today after careful study, consultation and consideration, armed with my love and passion for football, believing that our game is about fair competition, I have decided to contest," the AFC president said.
Bin Hammam predicted he has a 50-50 chance of winning. The Qatari's announcement met an April 1 deadline to declare himself a candidate to challenge Blatter's 13-year reign at the top of Fifa.
Bin Hammam said Fifa had become too bureaucratic and centralised, questioning its efficiency in technical and legal areas.
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