Luis Figo to challenge Blatter for FIFA presidency

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FORMER Barcelona and Real Madrid football player Luis Figo has confirmed that he is to run against FIFA President Sepp Blatter for the presidency of football’s governing body.

Nominations for the race to challenge Blatter close this Friday, and Figo has the minimum requirement to enter the race; support of five member nations.

“I care about football, so what I’m seeing regarding the image of FIFA, not only now but in the past, I don’t like it,” the former Portuguese international 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 to so many important people in football – players, managers, presidents of federations – and they all think that something has to be done.”

Figo’s announcement that he is to challenge Blatter for the presidency means that at least four candidates are in the running. Blatter himself is running again, and Figo will join Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and Dutch FA President Michael van Praag as challengers. 

Former Newcastle, Tottenham and France international David Ginola earlier this month declared his intention to run but he is yet to secure the support of five federations.

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