"Now it’s obvious there will be candidates for the FIFA presidency in 2011, a candidate from Asia,” said Blatter, as reported by Bloomberg. “I have not now finished my vision, and if the congress decides so I will be at their disposal.”

Bin Hammam told UK newspaper The Guardian he was not sure if he would run for the position, but said there were other Asian figures who were ready to do so.

“I believe that the time has come for an Asian to come forward for this position,” he said. “And there is more than one potential candidate available from Asia to lead world football. When we have that person, I hope the whole of Asia will unite behind him.”

Hammam had made a strongly worded endorsement of a two-year term in the interview, reported around the world yesterday.

“I genuinely believe eight years is enough for every president to focus on football,” he said. “After that, he’s looking after everything else other than football.”