Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed bin Hammam believes limiting terms for presidents of governing bodies, including at the head of FIFA, can only be good for the evolution of football.
Sepp Blatter was first voted into the top job in world football back in 1998 and was re-elected unopposed for another four years in 2007.
While bin Hammam, a member of FIFA's executive committee since 1996, has no issues with Blatter's reign, the Qatar national believes having one person in such a position for too long could hinder the natural modernisation process and restrict the impact of fresh ideas.
"I want to see a term limit for the presidents of all of the confederations, FIFA included," said bin Hammam, who has held his position since 2002 and at the AFC is subject to a three-term mandate.
"The more you stay, the longer you are in power - whether you like it not and no matter who you are - the less evolution there can be.
"Some of the statutes have been inherited, so if the international governing body will insist on a limitation related to the presidencies of the national associations and FIFA, I think that will be a great help."
Bin Hammam continued: "Sepp Blatter actually proposed that some years back, and it was rejected by the executive committee.
"It is not back on the table, but we, as a committee, feel our statutes are quite old and there is a drive to modernise them."
The 60-year-old may be seen as a potential successor to Blatter one day.
However, bin Hammam insisted now is not the time to be discussing possible FIFA presidential bids.
"It is too early to talk about that yet. We have a very active president, he is very healthy and I am one of those conservatives who would like to see stability within the football family," he said.
"He has a mandate until 2011, so there is no need to talk about it."
As head of the Asian confederation, bin Hammam would naturally champion their own cause for a potential 2018 World Cup bid - with Australia the leading contender.
However, he also believes England would present a strong case, their last bid for 2006 having failed up against fellow UEFA candidates Germany.
"Although I would always support any bid coming from Asia as an obligation, I think England would have fairly good chances," said bin Hammam, who was in London this week as a guest of the Premier League at the launch of their international good cause projects.
"We all feel, in general, that every three times [12 years] the World Cup has to come to Europe," he said.
"England does have positive points - they are the birthland of modern football and have hosted the World Cup once, and that was more than 40 years ago."
Bin Hammam added: "However, maybe there are also some other countries who have positive points also.
"Any good bid will have a chance to win. They have to convince the people. It is more of a public relations business."
While bin Hammam, a member of FIFA's executive committee since 1996, has no issues with Blatter's reign, the Qatar national believes having one person in such a position for too long could hinder the natural modernisation process and restrict the impact of fresh ideas.
"I want to see a term limit for the presidents of all of the confederations, FIFA included," said bin Hammam, who has held his position since 2002 and at the AFC is subject to a three-term mandate.
"The more you stay, the longer you are in power - whether you like it not and no matter who you are - the less evolution there can be.
"Some of the statutes have been inherited, so if the international governing body will insist on a limitation related to the presidencies of the national associations and FIFA, I think that will be a great help."
Bin Hammam continued: "Sepp Blatter actually proposed that some years back, and it was rejected by the executive committee.
"It is not back on the table, but we, as a committee, feel our statutes are quite old and there is a drive to modernise them."
The 60-year-old may be seen as a potential successor to Blatter one day.
However, bin Hammam insisted now is not the time to be discussing possible FIFA presidential bids.
"It is too early to talk about that yet. We have a very active president, he is very healthy and I am one of those conservatives who would like to see stability within the football family," he said.
"He has a mandate until 2011, so there is no need to talk about it."
As head of the Asian confederation, bin Hammam would naturally champion their own cause for a potential 2018 World Cup bid - with Australia the leading contender.
However, he also believes England would present a strong case, their last bid for 2006 having failed up against fellow UEFA candidates Germany.
"Although I would always support any bid coming from Asia as an obligation, I think England would have fairly good chances," said bin Hammam, who was in London this week as a guest of the Premier League at the launch of their international good cause projects.
"We all feel, in general, that every three times [12 years] the World Cup has to come to Europe," he said.
"England does have positive points - they are the birthland of modern football and have hosted the World Cup once, and that was more than 40 years ago."
Bin Hammam added: "However, maybe there are also some other countries who have positive points also.
"Any good bid will have a chance to win. They have to convince the people. It is more of a public relations business."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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