David Ginola, the model, actor, pundit and former footballer, launched "his bid to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in a campaign for Paddy Power," according to Ed Owen of CAMPAIGN LIVE. The campaign, by Lucky Generals and M&C Saatchi PR, wants to "reboot football."
Ginola aims to raise £2.3M ($3.5M) through donations "to fund his campaign via a special website," which will involve currying favor with 209 int'l FIFA associations.
Known as "David Copperfield" during his time at Newcastle for his ability to "pull goals out of nowhere," Ginola's campaign "aims to do the same for his FIFA bid." Lucky Generals Founder Andy Naim: "We’re incredibly proud to be part of this campaign. We set up the agency to make a difference and this bid could make a huge, positive impact on something millions of us love" (CAMPAIGN LIVE, 1/16). In London, Ben Rumsby reported Ginola defended taking £250,000 ($378,000) from Paddy Power to launch a bid for the FIFA presidency, "despite the threat of his campaign collapsing within days." Ginola "confirmed he had been paid" to stand against Blatter by a firm "notorious for its publicity stunts after agreeing to front a venture bearing all the hallmarks of being the latest." Ginola "floundered under intense questioning about FIFA’s processes -- he was unable to name a single member of its executive committee -- and the current topics of debate at the top of the game." But "it was his fee, and particularly the source of it, for what could prove only a fortnight’s work that provoked the most scepticism." Ginola: "I know that is probably your concern at the moment. But that shouldn’t be the case" (TELEGRAPH, 1/17).
