Fabrice Muamba hopes for FIFA role

LONDON (AP)

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is to meet with Fabrice Muamba later this month as the footballer who unexpectedly recovered from an on-field cardiac arrest considers a career in football politics.

The midfielder was forced to retire from football in August, five months after collapsing at Tottenham while playing for Bolton in front of a global television audience.

Muamba finds going to football matches tough emotionally, but says he's now attracted to sports politics.

''I like this kind of side of it, making decisions,'' Muamba said on the sidelines of the Leaders in Football Conference on Wednesday. ''Funnily enough I have a meeting with Sepp Blatter ... hopefully he can get a job for me.''

The former England under-21 international's meeting with Blatter is due to take place at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Oct. 30.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and the club doctor will travel with Muamba, who is expected to initially be given an ambassadorial job with FIFA.

Muamba's recovery was played out in the global spotlight after his heart stopped beating on its own for 78 minutes following his collapse at White Hart Lane in March.

Muamba said he is recovering well, but still suffers from memory loss.

''As far as I'm aware the doctor told me it would take me about a year for my memory to get back to normality, how it was before,'' Muamba said. ''So I have a slight problem with my memory. But I try not to think about it too much.

''I try to enjoy my life, enjoy my family and spend time with my family, and try to get on with things, because if you try to think about things too much you kind of draw yourself back into the whole position again.''