Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohammed bin Hammam talks at a press conference at AFC house in Kuala Lumpur on March 18, 2011. Hammam declared that he will throw his hat in the ring to contest the FIFA presidency. [Xinhua/AFP Photo]

Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam confirmed Friday that he will challenge reigning FIFA president Sepp Blatter to run for the top job of the sport's world governing body.

"After careful study and consideration, armed with love of football, believing that our game is about fair competition, I have decided to contest in the upcoming FIFA presidential election in June 2011," the 61-year-old Qatari said in a press conference from the headquarters of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur.

The AFC president's announcement of candidacy met the April 1 deadline, ending months of speculation.

The 75-year-old Swiss Blatter, who has reigned since 1998, is looking for his fourth term as head of FIFA.

Hammam and Blatter are now the only two candidates for the upcoming FIFA presidential election in June 2011.