Bin Hammam: Wearing three hats at the same time (Feature)

By Peter Auf der Heyde Jan 25, 2011, 5:01 GMT

Doha - Mohamed bin Hammam is a busy man these days.

He is wearing three different hats at the same time: president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), member of the executive of football's governing world body FIFA, and worldwide highest ranking Qatari football official.

And this, at a time when Qatar is hosting the Asian Cup, barely a month after FIFA announced that Qatar had been given the go-ahead to organize the 2022 World Cup - a decision that has sparked some controversy throughout the world.

For a man having to deal with so much at the same time, the 61- year-old seems remarkably calm and relaxed as he meets the German Press Agency dpa in Doha's upmarket Four Season's Hotel.

It soon becomes apparent what keeps him going: his passions for football, Qatar and Asia and the belief that his country can organize an excellent World Cup.

Bin Hammam believes the Asian Cup is an ideal showcase to make the latter point.

'I am very, very happy with the organization of the Asian Cup,' he says, adding that he hopes the success can silence some of the critics.

'We know our capabilities. In Qatar we are of the opinion, if we cannot do it, we were not going to offer ourselves to do it. Some of those people, who never visited Qatar in the first place, never knew what is in Qatar, I hope through the Asian Cup they can see what Qatar is capable of.'

South Africa faced similar skepticism ahead of its World Cup, bin Hammam recalls.

'There are so many criticisms that were directed at South Africa hosting the World Cup,' he points out. 'South Africa insisted that they would do a wonderful World Cup, and I can tell you, they accepted the challenges and were up to the mark and did a very, very successful World Cup.'

Bin Hammam, who has been on the FIFA executive since 2002 and has been AFC president since 1996, reiterates a position he has stated earlier that any proposal to change the date of the 2022 World Cup has to go through the proper channels.

'I am not supporting a January World Cup. I am sticking with my country's decision and the FIFA decision that this World Cup 2022 is going to be organized in June and July,' he says.

'We are happy with June and July. We knew we have the weather challenges, and we are promising the world it is going to be resolved. And the people have to witness us from now until that time.'

Bin Hammam says that he wishes to put his FIFA hat back on as he says that the discussion around the date of the 2022 World Cup is premature: 'The World Cup 2014 is where all the focus should go. After that there is 2018, and if after 2018 everything is in order, then we have to go to 2022. I think this would be a logical sequence.'

Asked if FIFA could have handled things like the bribery scandal that resulted in the suspension of two executive members last year better, he shows his loyality: 'I am from within FIFA, I should say FIFA is handling it reasonably, they are doing OK.'

But then he admits that they could have done better. 'Always you could be doing better,' bin Hamman says. 'Even the angels could be doing better in their business, you know.'

For a man who has had stints as president of the Qatar Football Association, as well as in the country's volleyball and table tennis associations, he is incredibly humble. 'Please, my name is not Mr President, it is Mohamed,' he says.

He is now being touted as a possible challenger to FIFA President Joseph Blatter, who has already announced that he will be seeking a fourth term in office later this year.

'I think change is very much necessary,' bin Hamman says, but does not want to confirm that he will stand for election.

He does say that a FIFA president should not be allowed to stand for more than eight to 12 years.

'My frank opinion is that when first they seek the position, they were all honest, but the corruption started after that. The more they want to stay in the position, the game is getting less important in their acts and their daily work. Their focus is always: how can I stay longer,' bin Hamman says.

'This is actually where the corruption in big organizations starts.'

Reluctant to say whether he will stand, bin Hamman confirms that he had been asked by football officials to run: 'OK, you ask me. Yes, I have been, but I don't think I am the only one.'

For many football officials throughout the world it could well be that he is the only one - the only one who can challenge Joseph Blatter for the FIFA presidency.

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