UEFA announced that General Secretary Gianni Infantino will stand for the FIFA presidency, according to the PA. The members of UEFA's exec committee have unanimously agreed to support Infantino -- UEFA President Michel Platini's "right-hand man for the past six years." Platini has also submitted his candidacy for the election but is currently suspended for 90 days pending a disciplinary hearing into a £1.3M payment signed off by FIFA President Sepp Blatter in '11. A statement from the UEFA exec committee said, "The forthcoming election for a new Fifa President represents a crucial moment in the governance of the game and the future of Fifa itself. We believe that Gianni Infantino has all of the qualities required to tackle the major challenges ahead and to lead the organisation on a path of reform to restore Fifa’s integrity and credibility" (PA, 10/26). The BBC reported all candidates "need the backing of five federations to be put forward for the vote." Infantino is "one of nine candidates to say they will stand," with the deadline for applications set at midnight local time. FIFA has confirmed it will hold the election to determine Blatter's successor at a special congress on Feb. 26 (BBC, 10/26).
SHEIKH SALMAN MAKES IT OFFICIAL: REUTERS' Simon Evans reported Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain has "formally entered the race to become FIFA president, the Bahrain News Agency reported." The agency said that Sheikh Salman had submitted his paperwork to FIFA HQ on Sunday. The Bahraini, who is closely allied with Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, "one of the most powerful men" in int'l sports politics and a "key figure in the Olympic movement," had canvassed opinion from Asian FAs last week. Brazilian former footballer Zico has said he "wants to stand but it is not known if he has been able to receive the necessary support" (REUTERS, 10/25).
BILITY SUBMITS BID: The BBC's Piers Edwards reported Liberia FA President Musa Bility said that his campaign team has "successfully submitted his candidacy" to FIFA to stand in February's presidential elections. The 48-year-old's campaign manager, Edwin Snowe, met with acting FIFA Secretary General Marcus Kattner on Monday morning at FIFA's HQ in Zurich. Bility has received the backing of the "five member associations necessary to stand, which have been passed on" to FIFA's Electoral Committee. Bility: "I am a very happy man." Bility is "only the second African to formally stand" for the FIFA presidency, after reigning Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou -- currently the acting FIFA president given Blatter's suspension -- "tried and failed" in the '02 elections. Two other African men "have also confirmed their intentions to stand." On Saturday, South Africa's Tokyo Sexwale announced his bid to run, "but it is unclear whether he has the backing of the five nominations needed." That is also the situation with former Nigeria int'l Segun Odegbami, who made his intentions known last month. Bility joins Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, former Trinidad and Tobago int'l David Nakhid, one-time FIFA Deputy Secretary General Jerome Champagne and Platini in registering for February's elections (BBC, 10/26).
CHUNG PULLS OUT: REUTERS' Joshua Franklin reported South Korea's Chung Mong-Joon on Monday pulled out of the race for the presidency of FIFA "due to a ban from the sport." He said in a statement, "Because of the ethics committee's unjust sanctions, I will have to miss the Oct. 26 deadline to file my candidacy" (REUTERS, 10/26).
