Figo throws his hat in the ring for FIFA’s top job
Print Edition
FORMER Portugal international Luis Figo said yesterday he wanted to stand for the FIFA presidency revealing his plans one day before nominations close to enter the race.
The former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward announced his intention to run against incumbent Sepp Blatter in an CNN interview and said he had the five nominations needed for an official campaign.
Figo, 42, was twice voted World Player of the Year and played for Portugal 127 times.
“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 said.
Figo is the latest to throw his hat in the ring alongside Blatter, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France, ex-France international David Ginola, Michael Van Praag, president of the Dutch FA and Mino Raiola, an Italian-Dutch football agent.
Figo launched his campaign one hour before van Praag held a news conference in Amsterdam to launch his bid. Van Praag also said he had five nominees but, like Figo, has not identified them.
Their rival campaigns suggest splits within UEFA, which is the only one of the six FIFA confederations officially opposing Blatter.
The deadline for candidates to file nominations from five of FIFA’s 209 member federations is 2300 GMT today.
Figo was UEFA’s ambassador for the Champions League final in Lisbon last year, and Van Praag is an elected member of UEFA’s ruling board.
UEFA President Michel Platini opted last August not to oppose his former mentor Blatter. Platini has also supported the candidacy of Prince Ali.
Other potential contenders seeking nominations include former FIFA official Jerome Champagne, a longtime Blatter ally, and former France player David Ginola, who is being paid by a betting operator to run.
Promotion for betting firm
Figo is also paid to do promotional work for a betting firm, Asian operator Dafabet, and was an ambassador for its 2014 World Cup promotions. It is unclear if Figo and Ginola will pass mandatory integrity checks on potential candidates by FIFA’s ethics committee.
The FIFA code of ethics covers officials who are “forbidden from taking part in, either directly or indirectly, or otherwise being associated with, betting, gambling, lotteries and similar events or transactions connected with football matches.”
Speaking about his campaign, Figo said: “Football has given me so much during my life and I want to give something back to the game. I look at the reputation of FIFA right now and I don’t like it. Football deserves better. In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of FIFA deteriorate and as I speak to many people in football — to players, managers and association presidents — so many of those people have told me that something has to be done.
“Throughout my career I have worked at all levels of the game. This has given me a unique insight and understanding that I feel can enhance the discussion about the future of FIFA and the future of football.”
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