Hammam, 55, has been the president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) since 2002 and had his four-year tenure as a FIFA Executive committee member extended until 2007 at the AFC Congress on Saturday.

Although the one-year extension would allow him to bid for the 2007 FIFA presidency without necessarily being tied to the AFC, Hammam said Blatter had indicated to him that he would seek another term.

Blatter was elected FIFA president in 1998 and re-elected for a second term in 2002. His current term of office expires in 2007 when he will be 71.

"Until this moment, I am supporting my good friend president Blatter and encouraging him to go for another term for the good and the benefit of football," Hammam told Reuters.

When asked about his own position should Blatter decide against running in 2007, Hammam said: "Yes, yes, for sure I would be interested, provided I get the support of Asia and the Asian confederation.

"I would also have to test the mood of national associations and confederations all over the world -- but I think the president will go on for a third term."

Hammam's profile has risen since he became AFC president.

Apart from being a FIFA Executive Committee member since 1996, he is chairman of the FIFA Goal Bureau, which provides financial aid to poor national associations.

His Vision Asia programme to raise the standard of football in Asia at all levels has also captured the attention of other continental governing bodies looking for a model development system. Since it was founded in Paris 100 years ago this month, FIFA has only had eight presidents. Seven of them have been from Europe, the exception being Brazilian Joao Havelange, Blatter's immediate predecessor, who held office from 1974 until 1998 when he retired at the age of 82.

Coincidentally, Havelange and Bin Hammam share the same birthdate of May 8.