Figo to stand for FIFA presidency

Former Barcelona and Real Madrid winger Luis Figo has announced his intention to stand for the FIFA presidency in May.

The 42-year-old – twice voted the world's best player – satisfies FIFA's criteria of working in a federation for at least two of the five years prior to an election, having been employed by Inter and Portugal in that time.

“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, who also revealed he secured the required support of five unnamed member associations, explained to 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.

“After that [Michael Garcia] report was not published I think that was the moment of change and the moment I thought that something had to be done.

“If you are transparent and if you ask for an investigation, a report, which you have nothing to hide, why don't you make public that report? If you have nothing to hide about that, you have to do it.

“[Publishing the report] is the easy thing to do if all the people is doubting what happened. If it came from FIFA to order that report and after that you don't publish, it is not a good decision.

“I think no one is untouchable in this life. If you think like that you are wrong.

“Of course [Blatter] is a person that is running the organisation for so long, since 1998, and a lot of people can be the favourite but I can say for me it is a fantastic challenge to try and convince the people to follow me and support me.

“I have so many examples in football; you can play against the strongest team or you can play against the weakest team and you never know who will win.

“Sometimes you think you will lose and you win, sometimes you think you will win and you lose. That is the beauty of sport. That is the beauty of this running too. It is not easy but you have to believe.”

Figo joins current leader Sepp Blatter, former Tottenham and France star David Ginola, AFC vice-President Prince Ali, head of Dutch football Michael van Praag and independent candidate Jerome Champagne in declaring their candidacy ahead of Thursday's deadline.

Tags FIFA Luis Figo Sepp Blatter
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