A BITTER power struggle between world soccer boss Joao Havelange and UEFA chief Lennart Johansson is reflected in a list of amendments to FIFA statutes to be presented to FIFA's 50th Congress.

Among 18 proposals before the two-day congress, which opens today, is one from Germany which will give 180-odd member associations full autonomy in legal matters. FIFA chiefs are reported to be against the move.

Another, from Scotland, will set an age limit of 70 on members of FIFA's committees as from 1998 - effectively barring the 80-year-old Havelange from standing for re-election when his sixth four-year term as president expires.

The congress will be preceded this morning by a meeting of FIFA's executive committee which is due to decide which of seven bidders should win international television and marketing rights for the 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals.