FIFA presidential challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam has claimed the development of football has come to virtual standstill and that it is time for Sepp Blatter to stand down after 13 years as football's most powerful man.
The 61-year-old Qatari, once Blatter's most loyal ally, will run against the 75-year-old in the election on June 1, claiming it is time he steps down after 13 years as president.
Bin Hammam has promised more transparency in FIFA, open voting for World Cup bidding, and to limit the presidency to eight years.
Blatter owes much to the Asian confederation chairman for his backing during the bitter 1998 and 2002 presidential election campaigns, but now his old supporter is gunning for him.
Bin Hammam, in Paris ahead of the UEFA Congress, told Press Association Sport: 'I was a supporter of Blatter and I have never regretted anything about that - he has contributed a lot for the development of the game.
'But he has been there a long time in that position. There must be the question: Mr President - when is it enough?
'I will limit myself to a maximum of eight years. If I am elected I will bring the proposal back so that the president of FIFA remains only for eight years.
'Mr Blatter came wanting eight years, two mandates, then 12 years and three mandates, and now four mandates and actually nothing is changing in the last three or four years.
'I am not saying I am the Godfather of football but I don't see anything moving, anything changing.
'Most of what we are seeing and hearing is criticism from outside towards FIFA and most of the time I don't think it's fair. This is what is driving me.'
Bin Hammam admitted that the pair had fallen out over FIFA issues in recent years but insisted they were not enemies.
'I see him as a friend,' he said. 'I wish that although I am presenting my candidacy he doesn't consider me as his enemy.
'In the last two or three years there has been a lot of confrontation between him and me, but in the right place which is in the executive committee, but that is for the better administration of football, it doesn't mean we hate each other.'
Bin Hammam faces an uphill struggle to win votes in UEFA, many of whom would prefer Blatter to keep the seat warm for Michel Platini to take over in 2015, and up until today he had not even gained the backing of the FA from his own country Qatar.
