South African businessman and former political prisoner Tokyo Sexwale is to run for the presidency of FIFA, a spokesperson said, according to Evans & Homewood of REUTERS. Sexwale is the fifth candidate to declare that he will bid to replace the outgoing Sepp Blatter in the Feb. 26 election. Sexwale's spokesperson, Peter Paul Ngwenya, said, "He is South Africa's candidate and we hope he will be all of Africa's candidate." The South African FA said that it "fully supported Sexwale's bid." Prospective candidates must submit their paperwork to FIFA, including nominations from five FAs, by Monday and they "then face an integrity check" from the organization's ethics group before being cleared to run. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid, ex-FIFA official Jérôme Champagne and UEFA President Michel Platini "also say they have submitted nominations." Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain is "also considering a bid and canvassed opinion among Asian federations last week." The "unusually high number of nominees could lead to a long and complex election with FIFA's voting system eliminating the candidate with the smallest support after each round of voting" (REUTERS, 10/24). REUTERS' Nick Said reported the German FA (DFB) said this month that it would "probably back the candidacy of Sexwale" (REUTERS, 10/24).
CHAMPAGNE ENTERS RACE: The PA's Martyn Ziegler reported there will be "at least one Frenchman in the race" for the FIFA presidency after former senior FIFA official Jérôme Champagne threw his hat into the ring. Champagne has submitted eight nomination letters from national associations -- "he had intended to run in the May election but failed to get the minimum five nominations on that occasion." In a letter to FIFA's 209 member associations, he said, "With determination and respect, I come before you again as candidate for the presidency of FIFA for the elections on 26 February 2016. The events of the past few months have renewed my determination to be a candidate." Champagne worked under Blatter as deputy general secretary of FIFA until he was forced out in '10. Champagne said that the timing of his departure from FIFA meant he had "no connection with the scandals that emanated" from the 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes in Dec. '10, or the presidential election the following year. Champagne has promised to help the "smaller and poorer associations, encourage clubs to keep young players rather than sell them," introduce video technology to help referees and bring more transparency into the running of FIFA. His plan includes "cutting Europe's influence" by reducing its places on FIFA's exec committee and the 13 spots it has at World Cup finals (PA, 10/23).
'DEEP CONCERN': The BBC's Dan Roan wrote the controversy surrounding the possible candidacy of Sheikh Salman for the FIFA presidency "has intensified" with the Int'l Trade Union Confederation expressing "deep concern" over the Asian football chief. Salman has been accused by Bahraini human rights groups of "complicity in the detention and torture of footballers and other athletes" in a crackdown launched by the Arab kingdom's rulers following pro-democracy protests in '11. Campaigners have called for him "to be prevented from standing" for alleged "crimes against humanity." Although Salman, who denies the claim against him, is yet to declare whether he is a candidate, the 49-year-old said that he has been urged to stand "by a growing number" of senior football administrators, FIFA members and personalities of public life. ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow said, "It's difficult to know how low FIFA politics can actually go. Football's governing body refused to investigate the allegations against Sheikh Salman from 2011, and it is inconceivable that someone who is facing such grave allegations of human rights violations could step into the void at the top of FIFA resulting from Swiss and U.S. corruption investigations" (BBC, 10/23).
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: REUTERS' Patrick Johnston wrote world players' union FIFPro said that "the next FIFA president should be an external candidate with a good record on human rights and governance and provide a strong track record of driving democratic reform." FIFPro said in a statement, "A clean break from the past is essential for FIFA to climb out of the toxic pit which continues to produce serious accusations of corrupt behaviour on almost a daily basis. Clearly, the presumption of innocence is a principle that needs to be upheld while various investigations are ongoing. At the same time, there is no doubt the present mayhem has left FIFA morally bankrupt." Sheikh Salman said this week that "he had been urged to stand in the election, but FIFPro's four-point criteria released on Friday was a clear question mark on his suitability." FIFPro said, "A new FIFA president would need to show a body of work based on social wellbeing, fairness, democratic values and human rights." The union's criteria "also requested an understanding of the game as a sport and business" (REUTERS, 10/23).
