Yahoo – AFP,
2 Feb 2015
Sepp
Blatter is favourite to win a new term at the helm of FIFA (AFP Photo/
Philippe
Desmazes)
|
Lausanne
(AFP) - Football's world governing body FIFA announced on Monday that three
candidates are bidding to unseat controversial long-time president Sepp
Blatter.
Asian
Football Confederation vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan,
former Portugal international Luis Figo and Dutch football chief Michael van
Praag will go head-to-head with the 78-year-old Swiss.
Two others
who had been considering making bids -- former France international forward
David Ginola and ex-FIFA executive official Jerome Champagne -- both failed to
get the necessary backing from five national associations.
Former
Portuguese international Luis Figo
is one of three candidates attempting to
unseat Sepp Blatter (AFP Photo/Fabrice
Coffrini)
|
"Upon
receipt of the results of the integrity checks, the (FIFA) Ad-hoc Electoral
Committee will reconvene in order to review all of the submissions and validate
their compliance with the applicable FIFA regulatory provisions.
"Following
this process, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee will formally admit and declare
the candidates who are eligible for the office of FIFA President."
After that
the FIFA executive committee will meet in Zurich on May 29 and decide if
Blatter will get a fifth term as president or bring in a new man.
The Swiss
bureaucrat is seen as an outstanding favourite to win a new term despite a
storm of protest over the way he runs the organisation.
His reign
has notably been tarnished by accusations of corruption stemming from the
bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were awarded to Russia
and Qatar respectively.
The
controversies have seriously eroded his support and tarnished his reputation in
European strongholds such as England, Germany and the Netherlands, but he still
enjoys wide support in Asia, Africa and Oceania.
On top of
that the success of last summer's World Cup in Brazil, despite earlier fears
over the state of the organisation, has further boosted his status.
Champagne,
a former FIFA deputy general secretary, was for a long time the only man to
declare his intention to challenge Blatter for the post.
But on
Monday he announced his withdrawal from the contest in a letter to national
associations where he blamed European-governing body UEFA and the
"institutions" mobilising to eliminate him.
He said he
had secured three nominations but other associations feared reprisals if they
backed him.
"The
reasons were numerous. Because they feared reprisals from their confederations
having issued "recommendations".
"Because
their federations were candidates to host continental competitions. Because
they relied too heavily on the financial support. Because they were committed
to defend a united continental front."
Ginola,
whose late entry as a potential candidate took many by surprise, ended his bid
on Friday after he failed to receive the required five nominations from
football associations needed to continue.
Figo and
van Praag both announced their candidatures last week while Prince Ali launched
his campaign at the start of the year.
All three
were successful in getting the minimum of five national associations to back
their bids.
Michiel van Praag outlining his position on KNVB television
|
Related Articles:
Dutch football association chairman challenges Sepp Blatter for Fifa top job
Dutch FA chairman wants to modernise Fifa, focus on football
Dutch FA chairman wants to modernise Fifa, focus on football
Jerome Champagne withdraws FIFA presidency bid
Jordan's Prince Ali says will stand for FIFA president
Jordan's Prince Ali says will stand for FIFA president
FIFA vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan speaks during
the Soccerex Global Convention 2014 in Manchester on September 8, 2014 (AFP Photo/Paul Ellis) |
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