Blatter 'to stand down in 2015'

2011-03-22 15:21:23

Sepp Blatter says he will step down as Fifa president in 2015, if he is re-elected for a fourth term in June.

The 75-year-old, who has been head of world football's governing body since 1998, is being challenged by Asian confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam.

"You know I aspire to another four years," he told a Uefa Congress on Tuesday. "[But] these will be the last years for which I stand as candidate."

The new president will be elected at a Fifa Congress, which starts on 31 May.

With Bin Hammam vowing to increase Fifa's decision-making power and spread its considerable wealth, Blatter is facing his first challenge since Issa Hayatou took him on - and lost - in 2002.

Bin Hammam is also currently attending the Congress for European football's governing body, Uefa, as the candidates lobby federation presidents for their vote on 1 June in Zurich.

Source: