Seeking support Mohamed Bin Hammam (R) of Qatar, chief of the Asian Football Confederation, accompanied by FIFA Vice President Austin Jack Warner, of Trinidad & Tobago, smiles during a meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuesday. (AP) DUBAI: Mohamed Bin Hammam blamed FIFA presidential rival Sepp Blatter Thursday for letting the governing body's reputation become “sullied beyond compare.” Bin Hammam, who is challenging Blatter in FIFA's presidential election on June 1, responded to the deepening corruption scandal surrounding the World Cup bidding contests on his blog. “I firmly believe FIFA, as a decision-making body and as an organization, is not corrupt,” the 61-year-old Qatari wrote. “However, under the current status quo it is impossible to deny that the governing body's reputation has been sullied beyond compare and it is time for that to change.” Bin Hammam added that “something urgently needs to be done to improve and enhance the image of FIFA” in light of allegations that six FIFA executive committee members were involved in bribery during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests. Bin Hammam was instrumental in delivering the 2022 tournament to Qatar and has dismissed suggestions that there was any wrongdoing in connection with the bid. “Much wonderful work is done by FIFA and to label the entire organization corrupt would be to tarnish the efforts of all those who operate tirelessly to bring all that is positively associated with our sport to people all over the globe,” he wrote. Bin Hammam also criticized Blatter for spending FIFA's money “arbitrarily” by donating $29 million to Interpol to tackle match-fixing and betting fraud, without consulting the executive committee. “It is just another example of the current regime choosing to run football how it sees fit, rather than doing so in a manner that is consistent with the governing body's proper procedures,” he wrote. “Imagine FIFA financing Interpol's activities!” Since he announced plans to run for the presidency, Bin Hammam has repeatedly criticized Blatter for remaining in the post too long, which he has suggested fueled perception that FIFA was corrupt. Blatter has been president since 1998. Blatter has made fighting corruption a central campaign theme to his campaign. He has pledged to resolve the current crisis before the June 1 election. Oceania to back Blatter Blatter was, however, given another boost in his bid to be re-elected as FIFA president when the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) said it would back the Swiss against Bin Hammam. “OFC has confirmed its support for the re-election of FIFA President Joseph Blatter citing a range of initiatives that have positively impacted the region under his leadership,” the OFC said in a statement. “While all Member Associations have an independent right to decide on which candidate to vote for, President Chung says today's decision highlights the unity and transparency within the Confederation.” South America's CONMEBOL and Europe's UEFA have already declared their support for Blatter.
