Former Portugal player Luis Figo (left) and Dutch football boss Michael van Praag.
Reuters/Berne
Former Portugal forward Luis Figo pulled out of the FIFA presidential election race yesterday, hours after Dutchman Michael van Praag had also withdrawn.
“My decision is made, I will not stand in what is being called an election for the FIFA presidency,” he said on his Facebook page.
“After a personal reflection and sharing views with two other candidates in this process, I believe that what is going to happen on May 29 in Zurich is not a normal electoral act. And because it is not, don’t count on me.”
His decision left Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein as the only challenger to incumbent Sepp Blatter for the FIFA election.
“There has not been a single public debate about each candidate’s proposals,” said the 42-year-old Figo in announcing his decision.
“Does anyone think it’s normal that an election for one of the most relevant organisations on the planet can go ahead without a public debate?”
“Does anyone think it’s normal that one of the candidates doesn’t even bother to present an election manifesto that can be voted on May 29,” he said referring to Blatter.
“Shouldn’t it be mandatory to present such a manifesto so that federation presidents know what they’re voting for?
“This electoral process is anything but an election.
“This (election) process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man—something I refuse to go along with.
“I do not fear the ballot box, but I will not go along with nor will I give my consent to a process which will end on May 29 and from which soccer will not emerge the winner.”
He added: “I have witnessed consecutive incidents, all over the world, that should shame anyone who desires soccer to be free, clean and democratic.
“I have seen with my own eyes federation presidents who, after one day comparing FIFA leaders to the devil, then go on stage and compare those same people with Jesus Christ.
“Nobody told me about this. I saw it with my own eyes.”
van Praag drops out too
Dutch FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag yesterday announced he was dropping his bid for the world football body’s presidency, saying he will back Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein instead against incumbent Sepp Blatter.
“After thorough deliberation and reflection with different involved parties and stakeholders, Michael van Praag decided to withdraw his candidacy to become the next FIFA president,” his public relations team said in a statement.
Van Praag will now “join forces with presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein,” said the statement, issued from Amsterdam.
The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB)-- which backed Van Praag’s bid, including financing his travel and accommodation costs, declined to comment ahead of the press conference.
Dutch football boss Van Praag was one of three challengers to long-time FIFA president Blatter and were said to be facing an uphill battle to dethrone the Swiss veteran in an election on May 29.
Van Praag, a former Ajax chairman announced his candidacy in January, saying he wanted to modernise the world governing body “which has lost all credibility.”
FIFA had become ridden with suspicion, conflicts of interest and allegations of nepotism and corruption, Van Praag said at the time.
Apart from Van Praag and Prince Ali, former Portugal football star Luis Figo is also a contender—all three campaigning for change following scandals including over the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Observers said Prince Ali stood the best chance to unseat Blatter because the Jordanian had a better campaign budget and contacts within FIFA, having served on its executive committee since 2011.
Late last month both Van Praag and Figo left open the possibility of a strategic withdrawal in Prince Ali’s favour to unite the vote, while speaking at an Asian Football Confederation congress in Bahrain.
