luis Figo wants to be FIFA president and claims he has the nominations needed for official challenge against Sepp Blatter. The former Portugal, Barcelona and Real Madrid playmaker announced his campaign in a statement on Wednesday timed for release with an interview with CNN. “I look at the reputation of FIFA right now and I don't like it. Football deserves better,” the 42-year-old Figo said in the statement. “Football has given me so much during my life, and I want to give something back to the game.”
FIFA president Blatter is the strong favorite to get a fifth presidential term in the May 29 ballot despite bribery and financial scandals which have implicated several of his executive committee colleagues. The deadline for would-be candidates to file nominations from five of FIFA's 209 member federations is 2300 GMT Thursday.“I have seen the image of FIFA deteriorate, and as I speak to many people in football — to players, managers and association presidents — so many of those people have told me that something has to be done.”
Figo, the 2001 world player of the year, launched his campaign one hour before Netherlands federation president Michael van Praag held a news conference in Amsterdam to explain his bid. Van Praag also says he has five nominees but, like Figo, has not identified them. Their rival campaigns suggest splits within UEFA, which is the only FIFA confederations officially opposing Blatter.
UEFA president Michel Platini opted last August not to stand against Blatter, though said he encouraged rivals for his 78-year-old former mentor. Platini has also supported the candidacy of his fellow FIFA vice president, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan. Other potential contender seeking nomination is former FIFA official Jerome Champagne. Blatter has led FIFA since 1998, and has worked for the body for 40 years.