Fifa president Blatter will leave his position in 2015
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has announced that he will stand down to make way for his successor in four years time – assuming he is re-elected in June.
Blatter is seeking a fourth term as Fifa president and is being challenged by Asian confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam.
The 75-year-old told Uefa’s Congress in Paris yesterday that if he wins he will definitely stand down in 2015.
Blatter said: “You know very well that I am a candidate for the next four years as Fifa president but these will be the last four years for which I stand as a candidate.
“Together we have the task of bringing together the adventure we have started. We want to ensure a better future for our youth.”
It is thought that Blatter’s announcement is an appeal for the support from the 53 European countries at the upcoming election before he stands aside for the current Uefa president Michel Platini in 2015.
The 55-year-old Frenchman, who has been president of Uefa since July 2006 and was re-elected unopposed for four more years at the European body’s event in Paris yesterday, refused to rule out standing for the FIFA presidency at some point in the future.
He said: “Let’s meet again in three years and then I will tell you.”
Bin Hammam revealed on Monday he would be interested in cutting a deal with Platini to oust Blatter, but the Qatari would certainly want at least eight years in office.