DPA/Berlin
Former Portugal great Luis Figo yesterday became the latest man intending to run against Joseph Blatter for the presidency of football’s ruling body FIFA.
“I’m delighted to announce my candidacy for the FIFA presidency. Football has given me so much during my life & I want to give something back,” Figo said on Twitter.
The 42-year-old said in an interview with broadcasters CNN that he has the necessary backing of five national federations to become a candidate for the election set for May 29 at the FIFA Congress in Zurich.
Others aiming to run for the top job against Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term, are Dutchman Michael van Praag, Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein and former French international David Ginola.
Champagne said he fears “a war of FIFA against UEFA” in the campaign as Europe’s ruling body opposes another term from Blatter and is believed to be behind the announcements of Figo and van Praag.
The deadline to announce is candidature is tomorrow midnight. Presidential candidates will be officially announced by FIFA at a later stage after they have undergone a review by the ethics committee and an electoral committee.
Figo, 42—the 2001 World Player of the Year who won 127 caps for Portugal and played for the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona—said he wants to change the image of FIFA tainted over various corruption allegations.
“I care about football, so what I’m seeing regarding the image of FIFA—not only now but in the past years—I don’t like it,” he told CNN. “Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it’s the moment for that.”
Van Praag, 66, meanwhile told a news conference yesterday that he plans to be in office for one four-year term only, and that he offered Blatter a role as advisor, if elected, at a meeting earlier this month, which the president declined. “I said Sepp, you will make yourself immortal if you take the plunge and step aside,” Van Praag said. “This is not about you or me, but about football.”
Van Praag said he wants to make FIFA more modern and democratic. He said FIFA has lost all credibility but insisted that the federation has also done good things.
The Dutchman called on Blatter to step down in summer during a stormy meeting ahead of the FIFA congress in Sao Paulo last summer as UEFA wants changes atop FIFA in the wake of corruption allegations in various areas including the bid process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
A FIFA probe cleared hosts Russia and Qatar to host the events while chief investigator Michael Garcia resigned after FIFA initially didn’t want to publish his report on the 2018 and 2022 probe.
The 78-year-old Swiss Blatter appears to be safe in the upcoming election as he has seemingly secured more than half of the votes through support from the confederations of Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Van Praag said that personally he has nothing against Blatter but Champagne, who despite aiming to stand against Blatter has always defended him, fears a dirty campaign.
“It is more and more obvious that we will see a campaign FIFA against UEFA. It is clear that the latest announcements have been organised and prepared with UEFA support. That makes me concerned,” he said.
“Everyone focuses on Blatter, Blatter, Blatter... Unfortunately the campaign will not be about football but against Blatter. The real problems of football fall by the wayside.”
Champagne says his difficulties in obtaining the support of five FIFA members also has political reasons.
“They are scared. Some federations are bidding for FIFA competitions or want to get into the executive committees of UEFA or FIFA. The fear their position will weaken because of the support for a candidate,” Champagne said.
Champagne also said he will fight until the end to secure the support of five FIFA members.
“I am close to the five supporters but not quite close enough. I will fight until the end,” the former FIFA executive Champagne said.
