FIFA presidential candidates Luís Figo and Michael van Praag have written to the Asian Football Confederation requesting the opportunity to "address delegates at their annual Congress on Thursday," according to Mike Collett of REUTERS. Former Portugal int'l Figo, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan and Van Praag, the president of the Dutch FA, who are all challenging incumbent Sepp Blatter for football's top job in the May 29 vote, "have not been invited to speak." However, Blatter, who is "expected to sweep up most of Asia's 47-votes, will address the Congress in his role as FIFA president." Figo: "I think myself and all the other candidates for the FIFA presidential election deserve a chance to address the Congress even if it's for a brief speech." Van Praag said, "I have written to (AFC President) Sheikh Salman twice and verbally asked him two days ago if I could address the delegates and he has given me no reply." The three men were "also refused the chance to speak" at the CONCACAF conference earlier this month. Nor were they "given the floor" at the South American (CONMEBOL) Congress in Asunción, Paraguay or the African (CAF) Congress in Cairo (REUTERS, 4/29).
