Former Portugal int'l Luis Figo said on Wednesday that "he wanted to stand for the FIFA presidency and had the five nominations needed," according to Mike Collett of REUTERS. Revealing his plans one day before nominations close to enter the race, the former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward told CNN he would run against incumbent Sepp Blatter because "football deserves better" than its current reputation. Figo, 42, "was twice voted World Player of the Year and played for Portugal a record 127 times, scoring 32 goals." Figo said, "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." His compatriot, Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho, issued a statement saying, “Luis Figo’s candidacy is a great step forward for football. His career over many years grants a better future for FIFA." The Danish FA (DBU) said it would back Figo "to get as wide a field with as many different profiles as possible." However, DBU President Jesper Moller stressed that "its support did not automatically mean Figo would receive the DBU's vote in the elections in May" (REUTERS, 1/28). In London, Ben Rumsby wrote the race for the FIFA presidency "took another shock twist." Figo appears to be one of three candidates endorsed by UEFA -- he sits on its football committee -- "as part of a strategy to ensure Blatter faces multiple opponents" in the run-up to FIFA Congress on May 29. The other names in the frame are FIFA VP Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan and Dutch FA Chair Michael van Praag. Figo: “If you search FIFA on the internet, you see the first word that comes out: scandal -- not positive words. It’s that we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this" (TELEGRAPH, 1/28). Also in London, Tom Peck wrote Figo confirmed that "he was not being paid by anyone to stand for their position." In contrast to David Ginola, "whose recent declaration was supported by a bookmaker and did not have the backing of any national associations." Asked if Blatter was beatable, he said, "No one is untouchable in this life" (INDEPENDENT, 1/28). In a separate article, Collett wrote Van Praag on Wednesday named six countries "who are backing his campaign for the FIFA presidency." Speaking at a news conference to formally launch his challenge to Blatter, "the erudite 67-year-old said he had nominations from Belgium, Sweden, Scotland, Romania, the Faroe Islands and the Netherlands and had sent them to FIFA." He also said that "he would only stand for one four-year term if elected." Like most of the other candidates, Van Praag "may only have an outside chance of ousting Blatter," but he likened himself to a small team playing a big side in a cup competition, saying, "Everyone expects the small team to lose but sometimes they win" (REUTERS, 1/28). The PA's Martyn Ziegler reported the FA "is to throw its weight" behind Prince Ali's campaign for the FIFA presidency. FA Chair Greg Dyke "is understood to have offered the association's backing to the Jordanian prince" and to nominate him to stand against Blatter. Meanwhile, "it has been confirmed that Scotland and Wales are both seeking to have representatives on UEFA's executive committee" (PA, 1/27).
DUTCHMAN WELCOMED: Prince Ali welcomed Van Praag’s decision to enter the FIFA presidential race, describing him as a “credible candidate” who will add to the debate about the future of FIFA. Prince Ali: "We welcome other credible colleagues from the football family who want to join a genuine debate about the future of FIFA" (
SHANGHAI DAILY, 1/28). TRIBAL FOOTBALL wrote "super agent" Mino Raiola "stepped back from plans to challenge for the FIFA presidency." Raiola "declared earlier this week he intended to run against" Blatter. However, news that Van Praag will run "has changed the Italian's mind." Raiola: "I will not be a candidate because my friend, Michael van Praag, is now running" (
TRIBAL FOOTBALL, 1/28). REUTERS' Esposito & Iturrieta wrote prospective FIFA presidential candidate Harold Mayne-Nicholls said on Wednesday that "he has decided not to run against" Blatter. Chile's Mayne-Nicholls, the former head of FIFA's technical committee which warned against holding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, "had said in October he might run." Mayne-Nicholls: "Faced with such candidates, who are much more powerful than me without a doubt, my possibilities of being a candidate seem very weak" (
REUTERS, 1/28).