Mohamed bin Hammam has been confirmed as the only challenger to incumbent Sepp Blatter during this year's FIFA presidential elections after the April 1st deadline for nominations passed with only two names in the hat. Bin Hammam, who currently serves as the head of the Asia Football Confederation (AFC), has led calls for more transparency in FIFA processes, especially the elections behind awarding World Cup hosting privileges - somewhat ironic considering the notable lack of transparancy during the elections that led to his native Qatar earning hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup.
Blatter, on the other hand, FIFA president since 1998 and unopposed in the 2007 election, has run on very little except a promise to re-evaluate some of the decisions he's taken on adding technological elements to the game following a controversial disallowed goal for England against Germany over the summer. He has, however, promised that, if elected, the upcoming term four-year will be his last and that he will step down in 2015 - presumably to allow UEFA head Michel Platini a crack at the FIFA presidency.
The election itself will be held during the FIFA Congress at the end of May, and nobody yet is sure exactly which way it will go - but considering Blatter's unpopularity both inside and outside the game there's a very real chance that bin Hammam will manage to become the ninth FIFA president and first from Asia this year.
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