Figo to challenge for FIFA presidency

LuisFigo - cropped

Former Portugal star Luis Figo has entered the race to become new FIFA president, becoming the fifth man to pose a challenge to Sepp Blatter.

A host of figures have confirmed their intention to challenge Blatter - with the organisation having come under plenty of pressure in recent months due to allegations of corruption in relation to the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The two-time World Player of the Year - formerly of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter, joins another former football David Ginola in confirming his intention to run. 

KNVB president Michael van Praag, former FIFA executive Jerome Champagne and FIFA vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein are also in the running. 

"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," Figo told CNN.

"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.

"I've been talking with so many important people in football - players, managers, president of federations - and they all think that something has to be done.

"Last year was the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed.

"Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it's the moment for that."

Ginola's campaign in particular has attracted criticisms of simply being a PR stunt, with all challengers needing backing from five FIFA member associations to stand.

In contrast top the Frenchman, Figo claims to have already received five letters of nomination required to run and insists he is not being paid during his campaign.

The deadline for confirmed nominations is on Thursday.

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