Bin Hammam rounds on FA for abstaining

Tuesday, 24th May 2011 at 14:25pm

62-year-old Fifa presidency candidate Mohammad bin Hammam has criticised the English Football Association's decision to abstain from voting in next month's election.

The Qatari who was instrumental in helping his country secure the 2022 World Cup said that the FA had forfeited the right to make changes to the way football's governing body is run from within.

The head of the Asian Football Federation, who is challenging current incumbent Sepp Blatter for Fifa's top position on June 1 said on his personal website that he was disappointed by the choice made by the FA.

The two organisations should be working together, he added.

Following accusations of corruption levelled at Fifa's Executive Committee by Lord Triesman, former head of the England 2018 World Cup bid, and Conservative MP Damien Collins, the FA announced that it would abstain from Wednesday's vote in protest.

"The football family is vast and diverse - perhaps more so than any of us can truly comprehend - and that is one of our sport's greatest strengths," Bin Hammam, 62, said.

"So it is always disappointing when someone opts not to engage with the rest, when one of our national associations takes the decision not to try to affect change from the inside.

"The FA, with its status as the oldest association in the world and England's position as the birthplace of the modern game, is one of the most important institutions in world football.

"As a result, they should be working with Fifa and the rest of the global game to improve and enhance football. By choosing to abstain, the FA is, sadly, forfeiting that right.

"I realise they have their reasons for making their decision but I hope in the days leading up to the election that they will reconsider their position and make moves to engage fully with the global football family, both on June 1 and beyond."

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