Asian confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam has not given up hope of challenging president Sepp Blatter for world football's top job next year despite losing a key FIFA vote Friday. Bin Hammam saw his motion to put an eight-year limit on future leadership terms rejected 15 to 5, with one abstention, by colleagues on FIFA's ruling executive body. Though the vote indicated that Bin Hammam lacks enough broad support to mount a serious challenge in the FIFA presidential election in May 2011, the Asian soccer chief thinks that things could have changed by the time campaigning starts in earnest in January. “The situation can be different than it is today, in January 2011,” Bin Hammam told The Associated Press at a Zurich hotel. Asked if it was time for an Asian to lead world football's ruling body, the 60-year-old Qatari said: “If it is the will of international football communities, yes, let it be that. If it is not the will and the wish ... then I think the answer might be ‘no'.” Though it would not have prevented Blatter from standing next year, the term-limit proposal was seen as testing potential opposition to him. The 74-year-old Swiss has occupied his powerful position for 12 years and intends standing for a fourth four-year term at the FIFA Congress scheduled in May 2011. Bin Hammam, who has represented Asia on FIFA's executive since 1996, said last month his continent was ready to lead. No Asian has ever been president in FIFA's 106-year history and the show of hands Friday indicated little enthusiasm for change yet. Aside from his own vote, Bin Hammam said he got support from his three Asian colleagues – Chung Mong-Joon of South Korea, who also has presidential ambitions, Japan's Junji Ogura, and Worawi Makudi of Thailand – and declined to identify the fifth backer. “I have accepted the result of the voting in a very sporting manner,” Bin Hammam said. “I was satisfied and happy with the way this matter has been dealt with.” He described his colleagues as “more experienced, more wise” in deciding what was best for FIFA. Blatter spoke during the discussion but the two men – who worked closely together during the president's 2002 re-election campaign – did not communicate afterward. “Even if we did not shake hands it doesn't mean that we are enemies,” said Bin Hammam, who insisted there was no political or hidden agenda in lodging the motion two weeks ago. Blatter later insisted he did not take personal offense. He said executive colleagues decided that matters of his office must be decided at a Congress by FIFA's 208 national members who elect presidents. Bin Hammam said he would not revive the subject at the next Congress, scheduled June 9-10 in Johannesburg on the eve of South Africa's match against Mexico which kicks off the first World Cup played in Africa. FIFA's top priority will then be preparing for the Dec. 2 vote when executive members will choose host nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Bin Hammam is also standing for a final four-year spell as Asian football president, as his own term was limited after being elected in 2002. Meanwhile, FIFA has lifted a suspension on Asian champions Iraq but warned Brunei which faces expulsion as a member over political interference. “Iraq is fully back as a member, they have a road map to (federation) elections and they can play football again,” FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Friday.
