Blatter: Pressure continues to mount on the FIFA chief (BenRadford/Allsport)

The plane carrying the FIFA president's entourage on its 11-nation tour is owned by a Saudi Arabian firm run by Saleh Abdullah Kamel, who has been named by the FBI as a possible financial backer for the Al Qaeda terrorist network - behind the World Trade Centre attacks.

The revelations come as Blatter steps up his campaign for reelection at next month's FIFA presidential vote in Seoul by once again threatening to cut Europe's World Cup representation.

Keen to please his African hosts, Blatter revealed his desire to change the current system which sees Europe provide 15 of the 32 finalists in Korea and Japan this summer.

Blatter said: 'After the 2002 World Cup we will sit down to see how the different slots will be distributed at the 2006 World Cup.

'It would not be correct to make it just for the strongest teams. We must have geographical distribution and also give access to those that have never been in the World Cup.'

Despite the pressure building on Blatter, the task facing his African challenger Issa Hayatou if he is to oust the president next month is still enormous.

Former world player of the year George Weah yesterday questioned whether his fellow African was capable of running world football. Weah said: 'What has Hayatou done for Africa as the president of the Confederation of African Football? Nothing.