FIFA President Sepp Blatter will have "at least one rival for next year's presidential election" as former senior FIFA exec Jerome Champagne "confirmed he would contest it," according to the AFP. Champagne, who worked closely with Blatter from '02-05 when he was deputy secretary-general, said on Twitter that "he had sent a letter to FIFA headquarters in Switzerland that he would be a candidate confirming his initial declaration in London back in January." Champagne, a former diplomat who worked on France's "successful bid for
the right to host" the 1998 World Cup before joining FIFA as an
int'l adviser, said he was "delighted that a debate had begun
about the future of FIFA and football and thought more candidates would
throw their hat into the ring" (AFP, 9/16). The BBC reported Champagne needs the backing of five FIFA member FA's but "does not have to disclose who they are until official declarations are made in January." The election will take place at the FIFA congress in June (BBC, 9/15). The PA reported Champagne called for FIFA to "be more democratic, inclusive
and receptive" to its member organizations, while he has "also proposed
public and televised debates to be held between all the candidates." He added, "The 2015 election must not be determined on the basis of individual appeal but on vision and agenda" (PA, 9/15).
ECKERT WARNS FIFA: REUTERS' Joern Poltz reported German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, who is "deciding what action to take following FIFA's
investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022
World Cup votes," said he doubted "if soccer and ethics can still fit
together." He also said that it would be "a few months" before he "announces his findings into the case." He said, "Many won't like what I am going to tell them" (REUTERS, 9/16).