FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa "is calling on voters to agree on a single candidate ahead of the election," according to Graham Dunbar of the AP. Sheikh Salman "dismissed suggestions that winning a contested election would give him a stronger mandate" to lead world football's governing body. He said,
"If we go to election there will be losers and maybe sometimes you need to avoid that result." The Bahraini royal and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino "are seen as front-runners among five candidates in the Feb. 26 vote." Sheikh Salman said it was best for FIFA if "we have a clear indication on who will be elected." A pre-election deal to unite behind one man "was suggested last week" by FIFA exec committee member and Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (AP, 2/9).
BATTLEGROUND: WORLD FOOTBALL INSIDER's Mark Bisson wrote the contenders seeking to replace Sepp Blatter "will each get 20 minutes to set out their visions to reform scandal-scarred FIFA to leaders of the 41 member associations of the North, Central American and Caribbean confederation."
With 41 votes at stake, CONCACAF "is a key battleground for the FIFA candidates." FIFA candidates are arriving in Miami "to lobby CONCACAF leaders and hold private meetings with federation presidents" (WORLD FOOTBALL INSIDER, 2/10).
SEXWALE DETERMINED: EYEWITNESS NEWS' Mothupi & Lewis wrote South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale said that "he will not give up on his bid" to become the next president of FIFA.
The Confederation of African Football "snubbed Sexwale last week, opting to throw its weight behind Sheikh Salman." The businessman and former minister said that the South African FA "is united behind him."
However, the association "is yet to publicly commit its support" for the 62-year-old South African businessman and former minister since announcing his candidacy in October (EYEWITNESS NEWS, 2/10). The TICO TIMES' Michael Krumholtz wrote former Costa Rican Football Federation President Eduardo Li "will be spending a bit more time" in a N.Y. prison.
His request to be released from preventive prison on bail "was denied Wednesday when Judge Robert Levy of the U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York ruled that he needed more guarantees from the defendant."
On Tuesday night, prosecutors requested that Li provide $10M-$15M in bail after Li’s side had offered the court $5M, including $300,000 in cash, for bail (TICO TIMES, 2/10).
