FIFA president Sepp Blatter has won a significant victory against a potential rival to further strengthen his position as the most powerful man in football.
A bid by Asian federation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam, viewed as a possible challenger to Blatter in next year's presidential election, to impose an eight-year limit on future FIFA presidents was heavily defeated today.
Bin Hammam had proposed the limit at today's FIFA executive committee meeting in Zurich, but only the Asian members backed him while all the others - understood to include UEFA president Michel Platini and British vice-president Geoff Thompson - opposed the move.
The result is a heavy blow for Bin Hammam and greatly decreases the likelihood of him standing for president.
Blatter's chances of being re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in office were further enhanced by FIFA's financial results for 2009, which showed turnover topping USD1billion for the first time, with reserves of a similar level.
Blatter told a news conference in Zurich: "Mohamed Bin Hammam proposed that the future mandate of the presidency is limited to eight years - twice four years - and not more.
"This motion was rejected by 15 votes to five with one abstention. This would only have been relevant for the presidential elections after 2011 .
"They have repeated that this is nothing personal but the executive committee was of the opinion that this is a matter for the FIFA Congress.
"The arguments which were brought forward were why should the FIFA presidential office be touched by such a limit and none of the confederation presidents?
"If there should be such a limit of mandates then it should be valid for everybody in FIFA and not just the president."
FIFA's results for 2009 showed revenue was USD1.059billion (£702million), 18% of which is profit.
Blatter said some of the profits would be dispersed to national associations and confederations.
"We are comfortable. I would not say we are rich but we are happy," added Blatter. "Compared to FIFA, the International Olympic Committee's equity is far behind."
Meanwhile, FIFA also announced that Indonesia had been told to withdraw from the bidding for the 2022 World Cup after failing to provide the necessary documents.
Bin Hammam had proposed the limit at today's FIFA executive committee meeting in Zurich, but only the Asian members backed him while all the others - understood to include UEFA president Michel Platini and British vice-president Geoff Thompson - opposed the move.
The result is a heavy blow for Bin Hammam and greatly decreases the likelihood of him standing for president.
Blatter's chances of being re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in office were further enhanced by FIFA's financial results for 2009, which showed turnover topping USD1billion for the first time, with reserves of a similar level.
Blatter told a news conference in Zurich: "Mohamed Bin Hammam proposed that the future mandate of the presidency is limited to eight years - twice four years - and not more.
"This motion was rejected by 15 votes to five with one abstention. This would only have been relevant for the presidential elections after 2011 .
"They have repeated that this is nothing personal but the executive committee was of the opinion that this is a matter for the FIFA Congress.
"The arguments which were brought forward were why should the FIFA presidential office be touched by such a limit and none of the confederation presidents?
"If there should be such a limit of mandates then it should be valid for everybody in FIFA and not just the president."
FIFA's results for 2009 showed revenue was USD1.059billion (£702million), 18% of which is profit.
Blatter said some of the profits would be dispersed to national associations and confederations.
"We are comfortable. I would not say we are rich but we are happy," added Blatter. "Compared to FIFA, the International Olympic Committee's equity is far behind."
Meanwhile, FIFA also announced that Indonesia had been told to withdraw from the bidding for the 2022 World Cup after failing to provide the necessary documents.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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