Blatter challengers down to 1 after Figo withdraws
Print Edition
LUIS Figo and Michael van Praag pulled out of the FIFA presidential election race, leaving Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein as the only challenger to runaway favorite Sepp Blatter.
Figo went out with a bang as he launched a blistering attack on the electoral system of soccer’s governing body, saying it was a “plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man — something I refuse to go along with.”
“Over the past few months I have not only witnessed that desire (for change), I have witnessed consecutive incidents, all over the world, that should shame anyone who desires soccer to be free, clean and democratic,” the former Portugal forward said. “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.
“I am firm in my desire to take an active part in the regeneration of FIFA and I will be available for it whenever it is proven to me that we are not living under a dictatorship.”
Blatter, 79, is widely to expected to be re-elected for a fifth term on May 29, even though, under his watch, FIFA has been plagued by scandals and controversy. These have ranged from allegations of corruption in the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process to a row over US$25,000 watches gifted to executive committee members at the Brazil World Cup last year.
UEFA, with 53 of the 209 votes at the election, has said it will not back Blatter, but the Swiss has widespread promises of support from the rest of the world.
Dutch FA president Van Praag pledged to back Prince Ali and said that the only way to unseat Blatter was for his opponents to unite.
Van Praag said Prince Ali had agreed to back his human rights and governance commitments, including ensuring better protections for migrant workers in 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar. “He is the one candidate who has the biggest chance to challenge Sepp Blatter,” Van Praag said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
