Less than two months after helping Qatar surprisingly land the 2022 World Cup following a scandal-filled voting process, Bin Hammam said the FIFA president's longevity in office has contributed to the perception that the organization is corrupt.

“Everybody is going to accuse us today as corrupted people because maybe people see Mr. Blatter has stayed a long time in FIFA,” Bin Hammam said in a one-on-one interview with the AP. “Thirty-five years in one organization is quite long time. No matter how clean you are, honest or how correct you are, still people will attack you. You are going to be defenseless. That is why I believe change is the best thing for the organization.”

The 74-year-old Blatter — who joined FIFA in 1975 as technical director, became secretary general in 1981 and president in 1998 — is up for re-election for a fourth four-year term as FIFA president in June, and so far no one is running against him. Although Bin Hammam has said that he wants to someday replace Blatter, he declined to say whether he would challenge the Swiss incumbent this year.

“I did not make up my mind yet,” Bin Hammam said. “I would rather wait and see.” But Bin Hammam is hoping that someone will run against Blatter.

“I'm actually seeking to see competition within FIFA for the post. I would prefer to see two candidates proposing themselves, or maybe more than two proposing themselves to the congress of FIFA,” Bin Hammam said. “Competition is good for the organization, whether president or any other posts. Competition is the best way to make the organization vibrant and alive.”

Two members of the 24-man executive committee were suspended before the 2018 and 2022 World Cup vote in December because of ethics violations. Russia was awarded the 2018 tournament and Qatar was given 2022.