MICHEl PlATINI
long expected to run for the FIFA job this year, Platini announced last August: “Now is not my time, not yet.” He pushed last week for Blatter to quit before the election. Because Europe holds only about one-quarter of the votes, Platini would need to build alliances to win. He has been UEFA president since January 2007. Platini presided over the expansion of the European Championship from 16 nations to 24 starting at next year’s tournament in France, pushed for Euro 2020 to be played in 13 cities across Europe rather than in one country, and as a member of the FIFA executive committee said he voted for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup.
PRINCE AlI BIN Al-HUSSEIN
Prince Ali, 39, would represent a two-generation change in leadership. He has been president of the Jordan Football Association since 1999 and served on the FIFA executive committee from 2011 until last week, when he was replaced by Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah of Kuwait. Prince Ali lost to Blatter 133-73 in Friday’s vote. Ali has promised to increase the World Cup field from 32 nations to 36.
ISSA HAYATOU
Hayatou, a Cameroonian who turns 69 in August, has been the president of the Confederation of African Football since 1988 and has been on the FIFA executive committee since 1990. Hayatou ran against Blatter for FIFA president in 2002 and lost 139-56. He has been a member of the IOC since 2001. Hayatou was reprimanded by the IOC in 2011 for receiving $20,000 in cash in 1995 from FIFA’s former marketing partner ISl. Hayatou denied wrongdoing, but the IOC said he was guilty of a conflict of interest.
MICHAEl VAN PRAAG
The 67-year-old Dutchman became chairman of the Royal Dutch Football Association in 2008 and has been on the UEFA executive committee since 2009. He was nominated to run against Blatter but withdrew a week before the election and supported Prince Ali. Van Praag had vowed to retain Blatter as an adviser and head of a “Sepp Blatter Foundation” to help underprivileged children.
Chung Mong-joon
South Korean, Chung, who was a FIFA VP for 17 years before losing his seat in 2011, says he’ll try to meet many figures in the international community and listen to their opinions before deciding to run. On Wednesday he said: I’ll carefully think about it before making a decision on whether to participate in the FIFA presidency election.
ZICO
62-year-old Brazilian football great Zico is considering the job as well. “Why notIJ” he said on his Facebook page. “My life has always been in football. It’s a passion that I have always treated seriously and with respect in Brazil and other countries. I think football comes before politics. I don’t have support yet, but if it’s open, I can become a candidate. It’s still an idea. Who knowsIJ”. Zico was Brazil’s sports minister in the 1990s and is currently coach of ISl team FC Goa.