Fifa: 8 candidates to succeed Sepp Blatter

Two Africans and Michel Platini are in the list of the eight personalities from the football world who have filed their application for candidacy for the presidency of FIFA.

The French Michel Platini and Jérôme Champagne, former Secretary General of FIFA, the Liberian Musa Bility, South Africa Tokyo Sexwale, Jordanian Ali Bin Al Hussein, the Swiss Gianni Infantino UEFA General Secretary, Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahil Bahrain and David Nakhid former footballer and captain of the selection of Trinidad and Tobago are the eight contenders to succeed the Swiss Sepp Blatter.

The lucky winner will be announced on February 26, 2016, during a special elective congress scheduled at the headquarters of the body of world football in Zurich, Switzerland.

In the current issue where the International Federation of Football Association is shaken by revelations concerning corruption and embezzlement, all candidates have focused mainly on their commitment projects to boost the image of FIFA and reform.

With four months to the election, it is difficult to identify a favourite. Michel Platini who favours prognosis was caught by a history of diversion of funds; the main accused his former mentor and resigned FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Because of this affair which has greatly dented his image and reputation, the former glory of French football is on a three-month ban imposed by the Ethics Committee of FIFA.

His candidacy is temporarily excluded but Michel Platini who denied the charges against him tried in vain to clear his name before the Chamber of Appeals of the institution of world football.

Yesterday Monday, October 26, judges of this chamber rejected the appeal of the French leader. He promised to seize the Court of Arbitration for Sport which will ultimately decide.

South Korean Chung Mong-joon and the former Brazilian footballer Zico who was expected as one of the candidates gave up at the last minute to enter the race to succeed Sepp Blatter.

The suspension of Chung Mong-joon for a period of six years by the Ethics Committee of FIFA after his conviction in a case of corruption and the inability to get Zico sponsor explained the packages of these two greats world football.