Revolution-seeking Blatter wins support from South America

"We had a really good relationship and he supported my election in 1998. We worked together but I wouldn't say it was a friendship." Blatter on his election rival Mohamed Bin Hammam —File photo ASUNCION: South America's football federation has thrown its support behind FIFA president Joseph Blatter, who is facing an election challenge from Asian football confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam. In a statement, the governing body CONMEBOL said it was giving its "united and full" support to Blatter. The statement was issued during CONMEBOL's executive committee meetings, which are being attended by Blatter. Blatter faces a vote on June 1 and is seeking his fourth term, which he says will be his last. He has led FIFA since 1998. The support was expected and announced in a statement by 79-year-old Julio Grondona, who is a high-ranking FIFA vice president and the president of the Argentine Football Association. "South America is united and fully committed in its support for Blatter's candidacy," CONMEBOL said, quoting Grondona. "There is no doubt about this." Blatter, who has been widely criticized for the way World Cup hosts are chosen, has promised wide-ranging changes as he campaigns for re-election. Future World Cup hosts should be selected in a way similar to how the International Olympic Committee chooses Olympic venues, Blatter told the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper. FIFA was criticized for the process that led its executive to give Russia the 2018 World Cup and choose Qatar as host of the 2022 tournament. Both decisions were made at the same time, with two executive committee members barred from voting by FIFA's ethics panel due to corruption allegations. Four other senior officials were also suspended from duty. "It's a project I've had at the back of my mind. I would like to (follow) the example of the IOC, to prevent what happened," Blatter told the paper. "The executive (would) receive 10 or 12 bids, look at them, pick the best and give (them) to the full congress to choose." The full congress includes 208 FIFA members – each representing a national association – who would all have one vote. Until now, World Cup hosts have been chosen by the 24-member Executive Committee. Blatter said he wanted to introduce a body designed to help repair FIFA's credibility. He said he already knew who he wanted to head the body, but didn't name them. "I can't tell you the name yet. He will choose the other members," Blatter said. "They should be familiar with football but their priority will be to restore credibility." The members would not come from within football, Blatter said. The 75-year-old Swiss, who is seeking a fourth term of office on June 1, also criticized his Qatari opponent in the presidential election, the Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam, for his decision to stand. "I don't know why Bin Hammam became so aggressive suddenly. He repeatedly told the executive he would not run against me and now he is doing it," Blatter said. "We had a really good relationship and he supported my election in 1998. We worked together but I wouldn't say it was a friendship." Blatter revealed his presidential salary was "1 million dollars. Perhaps a bit more. I'm not ashamed by that." He said he was also willing to publish the salaries of FIFA officials, "if the congress so decides." "Compared with international companies listed on the stock exchange, we are school kids as far as salaries are concerned," Blatter said. At the FIFA Congress in Zurich, the winning candidate needs a two-thirds majority in the first ballot or a simple majority in the second round. "I imagine that I have about the half votes from Asia and Africa and surely a majority in the rest of the world," Blatter said.