Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam has publicly declared he will not run against current FIFA president Sepp Blatter if the Swiss chooses to stand for re-election as the head of global football's governing body.
The two men were in attendance at the launch of the revamped Asian Champions League today and Hammam used his key note address to distance himself from suggestions he would run against his ally.
"I will never stand against you as FIFA president," said Hammam. "Mr President, you honour me and I honour you.
"Publicly I say, President Blatter I will always be your supporter and I will always be at your right hand."
The next vote for the FIFA presidency will be held in 2011 and Hammam has been touted in some quarters as a possible successor to the incumbent.
Despite continual denials, the Qatari continues to be linked with the post while Blatter - who won the presidency in 1998 - has yet to officially announce whether he intends to stand for a fourth term.
The pair were appearing at the relaunching of the AFC's premier club competition, which will undergo an overhaul when it kicks off next season.
The number of participants in the group stage has been increased from 28 to 32 while a preliminary round will be held to allow teams from the United Arab Emirates, India, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam the opportunity to qualify.
Only 10 national associations have met the criteria put forward for the competition and the five leading nations in the region - Japan, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran - will each have four clubs participating in the tournament.
A round of 16 has also been included for the first time while the final will be played in a single venue, marking a move away from the two-legged fixture which has been in place since the tournament's inauguration back in 2002.
Prize money for the competition has been significantly increased, with the winning club pocketing US$1.5million (£1million), more than double the amount currently on offer.
"We had to implement tough measures to ensure that the clubs and leagues they represented are truly professional in the way they are run and play football," said Hammam.
"This is the only way to build up the credibility of this tournament. At the end of the day, Asian football benefits and we are delighted to see that so many associations and clubs are doing their best to meet our competition criteria."
"I will never stand against you as FIFA president," said Hammam. "Mr President, you honour me and I honour you.
"Publicly I say, President Blatter I will always be your supporter and I will always be at your right hand."
The next vote for the FIFA presidency will be held in 2011 and Hammam has been touted in some quarters as a possible successor to the incumbent.
Despite continual denials, the Qatari continues to be linked with the post while Blatter - who won the presidency in 1998 - has yet to officially announce whether he intends to stand for a fourth term.
The pair were appearing at the relaunching of the AFC's premier club competition, which will undergo an overhaul when it kicks off next season.
The number of participants in the group stage has been increased from 28 to 32 while a preliminary round will be held to allow teams from the United Arab Emirates, India, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam the opportunity to qualify.
Only 10 national associations have met the criteria put forward for the competition and the five leading nations in the region - Japan, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran - will each have four clubs participating in the tournament.
A round of 16 has also been included for the first time while the final will be played in a single venue, marking a move away from the two-legged fixture which has been in place since the tournament's inauguration back in 2002.
Prize money for the competition has been significantly increased, with the winning club pocketing US$1.5million (£1million), more than double the amount currently on offer.
"We had to implement tough measures to ensure that the clubs and leagues they represented are truly professional in the way they are run and play football," said Hammam.
"This is the only way to build up the credibility of this tournament. At the end of the day, Asian football benefits and we are delighted to see that so many associations and clubs are doing their best to meet our competition criteria."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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